Strengthening Emergency Preparedness with County Firefighter Training Event
County Hosts Emergency Coordination Centre Tabletop Exercise
Lac Ste. Anne County Fire Services (LSACFS) recently demonstrated their dedication to preparedness and teamwork by hosting an Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) tabletop exercise. This training event brought together LSACFS firefighters, County Emergency Management leaders, and Lakeland College's Emergency Training Centre staff.
The County was proud to host Lakeland College's Emergency Training Centre, Dean Shawn McKerry, and Instructors Wayne Rose and Lyle Lawrence as they facilitated a wildfire emergency management tabletop scenario in the County’s Council Chambers.
This scenario brought our first responders into the Emergency Coordination Centre to gain experience and insight into what happens "behind the scenes" and how our ECC staff supports emergency operations, and County residents and ratepayers.
Thank you to the Lakeland College's Emergency Training Centre staff for putting this together for us, and to the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) whose grant made this exercise possible.
"This unique training opportunity is just another way our Fire Services continue to prepare and maintain the skills necessary to keep our community safe. Building a strong relationship with a premier educational provider — Lakeland College is very important, and we very much appreciate them coming out and facilitating this training for us"
About an Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC)
An ECC is activated in the event of a County emergency or disaster situation that is outside the scope of the average types of responses of our Fire Services. Under the authority of the County’s Director of Emergency Management, LSACFS Chief Randy Schroeder, an ECC activation will utilize the Incident Command System (ICS) framework. This is a critical framework used nationwide to manage emergencies and disasters of all sizes.
During this exercise, participants engaged in a simulated wildfire and worked through the steps of assessing the situation, allocating resources, and making real-time decisions to mitigate the crisis. These simulations are designed to test communication, leadership, and collaboration under pressure, all of which are essential for effective emergency response.
The exercise demonstrated the essential role of the ECC in ensuring effective teamwork between Fire Services and other agencies, such as the municipality, police, and utility services.
LSAC Fire Services’ commitment to continuing training is a cornerstone of public safety in the region. Their dedication to preparing for the unexpected ensures that when emergencies and disasters occur, our community can count on a swift and effective response. Thank you to everyone who participated in this important event — you are the backbone of our safety and security.
If you see a firefighter, be sure to thank them for their service and ongoing efforts to keep us safe!
County Connect
Register to be notified of fire bans, service interruptions and other important local alerts.
Was this information helpful?
to Top