The Emergency Services department provides effective and efficient responses to day-to-day emergencies through contracted fire departments. It prepares for, mitigates, responds to and recovers from disasters through the management of Disaster Services. The department helps to educate citizens about and provides enforcement of municipal, provincial and federal laws through the management of Regulatory Services and fosters cooperation and coordination between all Fire and Rescue, Disaster and Regulatory Services in the region.
Through responsible management of Fire/Rescue, Disaster and Regulatory Services, we continually strive to enhance the quality of life for our citizens and our community.
Emergency services are critical for the protection of life and property in any municipality, and a significant portion of the County’s annual budget is allocated to emergency services. The provision of these services is complex as the County has many different service providers.
Here's an infographic that explains how emergency services work in Lethbridge County:
Click to view larger: Emergency Services in Lethbridge County
| Questions? |
| Call 403.328.5525 Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Alberta Emergency Alert
Alberta Emergency Alert issues critical information about an immediate disaster, where it is occurring, and what action you need to take.
Visit the Alberta Emergency Alert website to download the mobile application.
Ambulance Services
Ambulance services are provided by Alberta Health Services.
There are a number of ambulance stations throughout Southern Alberta- all of which respond into Lethbridge County. The Chinook Regional Hospital is Southern Alberta’s main medical facility located in the City of Lethbridge. The Hospital’s main phone number is (403) 388-6111.
Emergency Preparedness
If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you, or you may be required to evacuate. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.
Click the link to learn more about what you can do to be prepared: Emergency Preparedness
Bylaw Enforcement/Community Peace Officer
For more information on Lethbridge County bylaw enforcement and Community Peace Officer, click the link: Bylaw Enforcement
Emergency Services Zones
Emergency Service Zones
All day-to-day emergency response services are provided by your local emergency services departments through service agreements with the County.
There are four separate agreements for emergency response and one agreement for 911 dispatch services.
Fire Departments:
- Coaldale and District Emergency Services
- Coalhurst Fire Department
- Nobleford and District Emergency Services
- Picture Butte and District Emergency Services
Fire Bans
Please visit https://www.lethcounty.ca/p/fire-bans for information on the current fire ban status.
Fire and Fireworks Permits
For more information click the links:
Firearms in Lethbridge County
A municipal district such as Lethbridge County may, by bylaw, prohibit the discharge of a firearm in all or part of the municipality. The county’s Firearms Control Bylaw No. 965 prohibits the discharge of firearms in hamlets, parks, golf courses, public playgrounds, light industrial subdivisions and in all country residential subdivisions.
The Wildlife Act prohibits the discharge of a firearm from or across a highway or publicly maintained roadway. It also prohibits the discharge of a weapon within 200 yards (183 metres) of any occupied building unless the owner or occupier consents.
To learn more about acquiring a firearms license, visit https://www.alberta.ca/get-a-firearms-licence.aspx
To learn more about acquiring a hunting license, visit https://eservices.alberta.ca/hunting-licence.html
The most up to date information regarding firearms regulations is found on the RCMP website at www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/firearms as well as the Firearms Act and Part III of the Criminal Code.
Firearm Safety
Click the link for more information: Firearm Safety
Policing - RCMP
FOR EMERGENCIES- DIAL 911
Click the link for more information on the RCMP in Lethbridge County:
- Coaldale (1708 20 Ave, Coaldale, 403-345-5552)
- Picture Butte (520 Watson Ave, Picture Butte, 403-732-4449)
Reports & Statistics
Alberta RCMP App
The best way for communities to assist the police is to report crimes in a timely and accurate manner. Download the Alberta RCMP app, which allows users to report a crime, view detachment information, crime mapping, and statistics.
Click to download:
Rural Crime Watch/RCMP Crime Map
Preventing Rural Crime
Everyone has a role to play in preventing rural crime. Reporting ALL rural crime is important in prevention. If not reported, the RCMP cannot track criminal activity trends to prevent subsequent incidents from occurring. Every report assists the RCMP in their investigations and it is important that citizens call the RCMP for all rural crime and suspicious activity.
To report suspicious activity call the Coaldale RCMP detachment: 403.345.5552
For emergencies, call 911.
For information and tips on how you can prevent rural crime, visit the Rural Crime Watch website.
RCMP Crime Map
The RCMP crime map for Lethbridge County and the surrounding area is available to view by clicking the link: RCMP Crime Map
Rural Living
Response times for emergency services cannot be guaranteed in Lethbridge County. Under some conditions you may find that emergency service response times are slow due to circumstances beyond the control of the provider. Travel distances, road and weather conditions, emergency call volumes and the availability of emergency service personnel can all affect emergency response times.
The physical characteristics of your property can be a positive or a negative in terms of fire prevention. Vegetation such as trees, shrubs, grass or other combustibles all provide fuel for fires. Defendable perimeters and removal of combustible materials around and adjacent to buildings and other valuables will help to prevent the spread of fire and fire losses. You are the best resource for the prevention of fires but if a fire should occur on your property, do not hesitate to call 911.
Rural emergency services are most often provided by dedicated individuals that add emergency services to their already full-time lives. Emergency services provided by "volunteers" are often funded, equipped and staffed at lower levels than those of full-time services and public expectations of rural emergency services should come with an understanding of these limitations.
Rural water supplies for fire fighting operations are often inadequate or non existent. The pressurized fire hydrants found in urban areas do not generally exist in rural areas and emergency services are often limited to the water supplies carried on their own apparatuses. Residents in rural areas should consider on-site water supplies accessible and maintained for firefighting operations.