Fire response billing in Redwater: What you need to know

By Brandie Majeau

The Town of Redwater operates a user-pay system for fire response costs. This

means that individuals who require fire services will receive a bill for the response. This

system ensures that the costs are covered by those who use the service rather than

spreading the expense across all taxpayers. Here’s a breakdown of how it works and

why it’s important:

The budget will cover essential operational costs to ensure the fire department is

always prepared to respond to emergencies. These include professional fees,

insurance, goods and supplies, repairs and maintenance, vehicle expenses, and

utilities. This covers not only equipment but also the maintenance of the fire department

building. While ensuring that the service is readily available to those in need is crucial,

the Town of Redwater must also consider the cost of fire response services.

Additionally, the local fire department responds to calls outside the city limits to ensure

that surrounding areas receive necessary assistance in emergencies. The question then

arises: should these costs be charged to the taxpayers? In 2024, it is anticipated that

$10,500 will be spent on user fees related to fire calls, showcasing the importance of

the user-pay system in effectively managing our budget. This system helps keep taxes

lower while ensuring that those who require fire response services contribute to

covering the associated costs.

Consider this: if the town absorbed fire response costs into the general budget, it

could lead to significant tax increases for all residents. For instance, a $30,000 increase

in costs would result in a 1% tax hike. This includes the hours spent on the equipment,

water usage, responders, and more. However, with a user-pay system in place, only

those who use the service are billed, preventing such tax hikes.

In 2024, they projected $10,500 in user fees related to fire calls. It’s important to

note that this projection is specifically for in-town calls. As Sturgeon County handles the

fire department and would bill for responses outside corporate limits, this user-pay

system effectively manages our budget. It helps keep taxes lower while ensuring that

individuals who require fire response services cover the associated costs.

The fire department’s response to a structure fire includes pumper trucks, water

trucks, and command vehicles. Based on rates set by the Government of Alberta, the

total cost for such a response is approximately $4,410 per hour. The actual costs may

vary depending on the specific situation.

This underscores the importance of insurance. While individual insurance

policies likely cover repairs or replacement of the home in the event of a fire, as well as

the contents of the home, it’s crucial to determine if they also cover fire department

charges and firefighting expenses. It’s essential to contact personal insurance

companies to understand the coverage in the event of a fire, and to ensure that fire

department charges are covered by individual policies to avoid residents being left with

an out-of-pocket bill for response costs.