Province provides $500,000 for Municipal Fire Services Training

News Release
April 18, 2008

Province provides $500,000 for municipal fire services training
Alberta firefighters continue to receive high-quality, certified training

Edmonton… Firefighters from across Alberta will continue to receive high-quality, certified, local training through the allocation of $500,000 by Alberta Municipal Affairs for fire services training initiatives.“Firefighters are critical first responders to emergencies,” said Ray Danyluk, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “This initiative ensures they’ll receive the top-quality training they need to continue to keep us safe.”

Under the program, now in its fourth year, conditional grants are available to firefighters for certified training courses at the province’s 24 regional training centres. The courses, which focus on topics ranging from fire cause and origin to wildland firefighting, support the sustainability of Alberta’s fire service. The program also supports access to new distance learning programs.

Funding for training is available to firefighters from all municipalities, with 80 per cent of enrolment initially reserved for volunteers. Fire service providers from Alberta’s First Nations communities will also be invited to attend training sessions.

For more information on the fire service training grants, visit the Alberta Emergency Management Agency website at www.aema.alberta.ca and click “Training,” or the fire etc. website at www.fire-etc.ca.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Tim Chander
Communications
Alberta Municipal Affairs
780-427-8862