By Shelley Winger
When the call came to help battle the Redwater Recreation Area wildfire in May 2025, Captain
Renee Gifford of Lac Ste. Anne County Fire Services learned she would be heading out with an all-
female crew.
“When we were being deployed, Chief Schroeder called me and said, ‘Captain, I’m giving you an all-
girl power team,’” Gifford said. “I think he knew this would make me very happy.”
Gifford, captain of Station 7 in Cherhill, joined three other women for the two-day deployment,
working alongside crews responding to the wildfire.
Lac Ste. Anne County Fire Services operates as one department across multiple stations. Women
make up 27 per cent of the department overall, including 20 per cent of its officer corps, reflecting
the growing number of women serving in leadership roles.
For Gifford, working alongside three other women on the deployment was a memorable experience.
“There was something pretty powerful about looking around that truck and realizing it was four
women, working side by side, doing the exact same job we’ve trained hard to do and proving that we
belonged there just as much as anyone else,” she said.
The experience also brought a sobering reminder of how quickly conditions can change during a
wildfire.
Gifford said the moment that stands out most was when all ground crews were suddenly ordered to
relocate after shifting winds sent the fire directly toward the command post.
“As an experienced wildland firefighter, I know how quickly things can change, but moments like that
still remind you how unpredictable and powerful fire can be,” she said.
Despite the challenges, the crew worked hard, supported one another and shared plenty of laughs
along the way.
Gifford was later surprised to receive a certificate and challenge coin recognizing the crew’s efforts.
“I was honestly shocked,” she said. “Helping our neighbours is just what we do in the fire service.
They’ve been there for us and we’ll be there for them.”
She said the recognition made an already unforgettable experience even more meaningful.
“I was very proud of our little all-female crew and what we accomplished together,” Gifford said.