Emergency Services

Yellowhead County Emergency Services protects and improves the quality of community life through the delivery of fire/rescue services, ambulance services, law enforcement, disaster services, 9-1-1 and dispatch and animal control.

Fire/rescue services are provided by 250 highly trained volunteer firefighters, operating in eight different stations through the County.  The County maintains a fire fleet of 32 vehicles, eight stations, communication systems, personal protective equipment and fire/rescue equipment valued at 3.5 million dollars.

The most important component of the Yellowhead County Fire Department is the men and women who are dedicated to serve their community anytime and anywhere under difficult conditions.

Yellowhead County Fire Department proudly protects 9,500 people living in an area of 22,000 square kilometers. We operate out of seven stations that protect a primarily rural area. Our department is a public department whose members are on a volunteer status.

Yellowhead County has partnered with the municipalities of Edson and Hinton to provide a state-of-the art 911 dispatch center to its residents. In 2007, the dispatch centre was moved into the Yellowhead County administration building with new technology and equipment that allowed for an improved level of service. These upgrades included a computer-aided dispatch which allows the dispatcher to see the location of the caller and a new radio system to keep communications in place with all fire and EMS departments.

Yellowhead County 911 dispatches for Hinton and Edson EMS as well as 10 fire departments (Brule, Hinton, Cadomin, Robb, Marlboro, Edson, Peers, Niton, Wildwood and Pembina). In case of a power failure, the dispatch is fully equipped with generators and UPS back-up power to ensure that all communications lines remain open.

The 911 centre receives approximately 3 to 7 calls per day, although this can increase dramatically depending on the time of year or the weather. The centre is staffed with four full time dispatchers and a full time supervisor. There are also casual staff who complete the roster.

When you should call 911:

-for a life threatening medical emergency

-for a crime in progress

-for a traffic accident

-for any type of fire – vehicle, structure, or wildfire

When you should NOT call 911:

-for a weather report or road conditions

-for directions

-for phone numbers/information (call 411)

-for animals stuck in trees

-for fun/prank calls

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