60 Years of Fire Service

(From left to right): Councillor Rob Wiedeman, Bill Purdy, Brian Cornforth, Mayor Allan Gamble

One man has been with Parkland County Fire Services since the very beginning. This year, Fire Services celebrates its 60^th anniversary and with this, Bill Purdy celebrates 60 years of service.

Purdy has been a dedicated member of the County’s Fire Services since its infancy and has witnessed its growth over the years.

In 1962, Purdy and other apprentice engineers working at TransAlta’s Wabamun Plant came to the Municipal District of Stony Plain’s Wabamun council to highlight the need for fire services to protect the area.

Two years later, the Fire Services department was created with Purdy acting as a volunteer firefighter along with 21 others.

Purdy witnessed the early stages of Fire Services, which had a limited number of resources and various other challenges. Fire Services did not have sirens, the call system was limited to a party-line system, and the firetruck only sat two people.

Throughout the decades, Fire Services developed and evolved with the former village, shifting to accommodate increasing needs for fire protection and emergency services. The fire department was provided with essential equipment that allowed firefighters to begin undertaking water and ice rescue operations.

In recent years, Purdy has adopted a more advisory role. By relying on his experience, he helps inform decisions that bolster Fire Services and provides recommendations on resources and training required to respond to the County’s needs.

“As far as I’m concerned, our training is number one in Alberta,” he says. “Each year, we have a recruit class of up to 30 people that are trained up and then designated to Wabamun, Tomahawk, Acheson, or Parkland Village.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Bill for his many years of dedicated service,” says Parkland County Fire Chief Brian Cornforth. “He has done amazing things for our Fire Services and will continue to be someone we lean on for wisdom and advice.”

Purdy expresses appreciation for his involvement and looks forward to what the future holds for Parkland’s Fire Services.