Fire Destroys Part of Redwood Meadows Emergency Station, Leaving $1.5M Rebuild Gap

A December fire that destroyed part of the Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (RMES) building has left the organization facing a $1.5 million funding gap to rebuild the facility and replace lost emergency equipment.

Firefighters were dispatched on Dec. 17 to a structure fire at the emergency services building in the Townsite of Redwood Meadows, west of Bragg Creek. More than 30 firefighters from Redwood Meadows Emergency Services and Rocky View County Fire Services responded and were able to contain the blaze. An investigation later determined the fire was accidental, with likely electrical involvement.

Despite their efforts, the building’s four-bay back hall and its contents were destroyed, said Gord Tarte, chief administrative officer for the townsite.

The back hall housed emergency response and training equipment, including a fire engine, a water tender, a small off-road emergency response vehicle, a utility terrain vehicle and a self-contained breathing apparatus air-bottle refilling station. Additional losses included the emergency equipment stored on the trucks, extra turnout gear, training equipment, and water-containment units used for grass fires.

The building’s front hall, which houses primary response vehicles, member response gear, and administrative offices, was not impacted by the fire, allowing emergency services to remain operational.

“Redwood Meadows Emergency Services remains fully operational and has been responding to emergency calls since the night of the fire,” said Tarte.

Contingency planning helped limit the operational impact. RMES does not store its entire fleet in a single building, and mutual-aid agreements allowed neighbouring departments to assist immediately. Additionally, in the days following the fire, emergency vehicles were loaned or donated by surrounding communities.

“We’re grateful for the donations and loans of emergency response vehicles from other communities,” said Tarte.

Despite those supports, the townsite continues to face a funding shortfall of approximately $1.5 million.

“Funding gaps are a reality as insurance coverage is limited and replacement costs have gone up significantly over the years,” Tarte said. “While insurance and local fundraising have addressed immediate needs, we face a remaining funding gap of approximately $1.5 million to fully restore RMES facilities and equipment.”

Filling that gap is a challenge, as Redwood Meadows relies entirely on a residential tax base of 351 homes and has no commercial tax base. The volunteer-run service provides fire, rescue, and medical response to Redwood Meadows, the surrounding Bragg Creek area, sections of Kananaskis Country along Highway 66, and the west side of the TsuuT’ina First Nation, covering nearly 1,000 square kilometres.

Reconstruction timelines have not been finalized, as Tarte says rebuilding the structure could take six to eight months once insurance settlements are complete, while replacing lost equipment could take at least a year.

How you can help

The Townsite of Redwood Meadows and the Redwood Meadows Firefighters’ Association have launched a joint fundraising campaign to close the funding gap and fully restore the emergency services facility. Residents and supporters can contribute through direct donations or by organizing community-led fundraising initiatives. Information on donating or arranging other forms of support is available on the campaign's website.