Volunteer Firefighters

Milestone and Rural Volunteer Fire Department

Milestone’s volunteer fire department meets monthly and operates one large and one small pumper truck and one rescue unit. They have extensive specialized training and a large equipment inventory to handle emergencies.

Volunteers are always needed to join the team. If you have an interest or for more information, please email

mi*****************@ou*****.com

Follow them on Twitter @Milestonefire

Fire & Safety Education Links

FAQ’s

Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Volunteer Fire Departments. Should you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact

mi*****************@ou*****.com

.

Should I get Fire Fighting Insurance?
We advise everyone to ensure they have the appropriate Fire Fighting Insurance, we recommend that you have at least $10,000.00 firefighting coverage. The average firefighting costs can range from $1,200.00 to upwards of $10,000.00. Contact your local insurance broker for more information.
If I have an emergency and call for help, what happens?
When you call 911 to report an emergency in town, the call is rerouted to Prince Albert or EMS dispatch. They will then initiate call-out procedures for the Fire Department. All fire department members provide their numbers (home and cell) to EMS dispatch, and first responders, firefighters or both are notified by phone to respond to the fire hall. The nature of the emergency and location are also provided, if available, during that notification. Once sufficient members have arrived at the fire hall, a unit or units are dispatched to the incident. When the senior fire department person arrives at the scene, they may request dispatch of additional resources from the city or surrounding communities if required.
What happens if there is an emergency in town and the city emergency services cannot respond?
The fire department will continue to provide service within the scope of their training and ability until the incident is over or until relieved. This is why it is important for residents to become involved, to ensure there are enough responders to help if there is no outside assistance available.
What happens during the week when everyone is at work?
This is a difficult time indeed to have people available to respond. That is why we encourage anyone who stays at home, regardless of gender, to volunteer with emergency services.
What if I’m not big enough or strong enough to do this?
Size doesn’t matter; with training, anyone can effectively respond to an emergency and help within their ability to do so. Physical size or gender is not an obstacle to success.
What if I can’t respond when I am called? I have young children.
No one is asking that you risk the health and safety of your family. If you are called but cannot leave without endangering your family, you should look to their safety and security first. That being said, you must remember that as a member, you have pledged to respond to a call for assistance if possible and as soon as possible.
I pay taxes for this sort of thing, as much as in the City; why should I have to do it?
You don’t have to do it, of course, but the reality is that we don’t receive enough funds through Municipal taxes to fund a local emergency services organization. The City of Regina, for example, has the benefit of volume; they have many thousands of taxpayers to fund all municipal services, including emergency response. For all of us to provide a level of emergency service without a significant increase in taxes, we have to do it with the help of volunteers. The fire department’s mission is: To preserve the quality of life of the residents of Milestone and the surrounding area by providing efficient and effective delivery of emergency services within our training and ability.
The following represents the fire department’s vision: To become a responsive and progressive organization by building a dedicated team of motivated individuals that recognizes the importance of serving and protecting their community.
The only way to realize the mission and vision of the fire department is with the dedication and support of people like you. As an added bonus, volunteers receive a tax incentive from the Federal and Provincial Governments in the form of a tax break on income tax.
If there is a fire or other emergency, I will just come out and help, I don’t need to waste my time training.
The area around an incident site can be extremely dangerous, even life-threatening, unless you have the training and equipment to handle it. That, combined with the fact that the fire department volunteers train to function as a team, means you may be more of a liability than a help, which could get someone hurt or worse.
I am very busy, I don’t have the time required for the required training.
The fire department is a dedicated group of ordinary citizens just like you who give their time and expertise to help those in need. Joining the department and training to be a firefighter, first responder, or both is an excellent way to become part of the community and help protect your family, property, and others. It doesn’t really take all that much time.
What is involved in training?
Basically, first responders are called to medical emergencies in and around town. They also respond to vehicle accidents on the highway that are within our response area. The initial training is a weekend course provided by the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR), providing volunteers with a first responder certification. Think of it as a first-aid course on steroids. Once that is completed, a few meetings are held in the town for orientation to new equipment and/or protocol changes. First Responder certification expires every two years and requires an eight-hour re-cert course offered by the RQHR. Firefighters are trained, for the most part, in-house. There are opportunities for outside training through other communities and/or corporations. Firefighters meet monthly for two to three hours in the fire hall. The fire department provides basic training and all personal protective gear/equipment.
How do I join?
If you have an interest or for more information, please email

mi*****************@ou*****.com

. All applications are confidential. A department representative will contact you regarding the next step in the process.