January Fire Numbers Down For Fire Department

February 21, 2012

In terms of calls to fires in January, the Grande Prairie fire department responded to 6 such incidents last month -- down significantly from last year.

Fire Chief Dan Lemieux ponders some of the reasons.

"The reason for that, it is difficult to analyze at this early stage.  But it may very well have to do with the weather - the fact that we have had a very mild winter.  We tend to have more incidents when it is very cold so that may very well be a reason for it."

Lemieux believes another factor is the public education the department does through Fire Safety and other programs.

Lemieux adds that alarm calls have remained static, and the department is continuing its education program about false alarms -- and will be doing that for some time.

Last fall council passed a bylaw that would allow the fire department to invoice for repeat false alarm calls.

Lemieux says they have not taken that step yet.