On December 17th tones dropped for a structure fire in Redwood Meadows Emergency Services’ back hall. The fire quickly became fully involved.

Despite the heroic efforts of more than 30 firefighters from Redwood Meadows Emergency Services and Rocky View County Fire Services, the 4-bay backhall and its contents were destroyed.

The building contained equipment used to support emergency responses, including: an older fire engine, a water tender truck, a bush buggy, a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) and SCBA air bottle refilling station.

Other early known losses include the emergency equipment on the trucks, additional emergency equipment, extra turnout gear, training equipment, RMES’ Training Centre and grass fire water containment units.

Thankfully, Redwood Meadows Emergency Services’ front hall, which houses 220 Engine, 120 Rapid Response, 120 Rescue, member response gear and offices, was not impacted by the fire. Redwood Meadows Emergency Services remains operational and ready to respond.

Redwood Meadows Emergency Services is doing a thorough audit of our equipment inventory and will be working with the insurance company to provide a full list of losses. It will take time to replace 120 Engine and 120 Tender, which both RMES and our partners rely on to support emergency response. Our immediate need is for donations of a new or gently used pickup truck to replace the one lost that supported grassfire and working fire operations, as well as a UTV, which supported grassfire responses and an average of 100 backcountry rescues annually. We can’t do their work without them.

RMES is used to being the “helper”, not asking for help. We are humbly asking for the community’s support to help us rebuild what was lost in the back hall fire so we can continue to deliver emergency service excellence to the Redwood Meadows and greater Bragg Creek area.