Kevin Hanson – Division 1
Quick Bits
Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding supporting the Springbank Trails and Pathways Association and outlining our respective roles, expectations, and areas of cooperation. It took a little longer than I anticipated, as mentioned in my previous columns, but Council gave its approval on July 21. This work is closely connected to future opportunities in North Springbank, particularly those related to the Trans Canada Trail.
The 2026 FireSmart Bragg Creek Fireguard Study also remains underway, with Rocky View County Fire Services, West Fraser, and provincial departments all participating. The FireSmart Committee will receive draft updates as the project nears completion.
Fire Protection Update for Communities Served by Elbow Valley Fire Station 101
I have discussed the pilot project undertaken by Rocky View County Fire Services in the fall of 2025 in previous columns. Based on the results of that pilot, the addition of new tender equipment, and increased staffing levels, Elbow Valley Fire Station 101 has now been accredited to provide a Superior Tanker Shuttle Service level of fire protection.
I am relaying this information as the details are being finalized and published on the Rocky View County website, so I reserve the right to be corrected by the official information once it is fully available.
This represents the beginning of the end of a long journey for me as a Councillor. The challenge has always been to find an appropriate balance between insurance costs, taxation, and the fairness of determining who pays for—and who benefits from—different levels of fire protection.
In June 2026, Rocky View County Fire Services received Fire Underwriters Survey accreditation for its Superior Tanker Shuttle Service following a successful evaluation completed in April. The accreditation confirms that Fire Services can establish and maintain an approved firefighting water supply using tanker trucks when a conventional hydrant system is unavailable or unreliable.
The accreditation applies to approved water sources and eligible properties within the accredited service area associated with Elbow Valley Fire Station 101. This generally includes communities and properties located within the applicable eight-kilometre service area of the station, although residents should confirm their individual eligibility through the County or their insurance provider.
Under a tanker shuttle operation, water is transported from an approved source to the site of a fire using tanker trucks. Portable water-storage tanks are established at the scene, and the tankers operate in a coordinated rotation to maintain the water supply required by firefighters.
This is not the same as having an operational hydrant immediately adjacent to a property. However, it is a tested
and recognized alternative water-supply method that demonstrates the County has the equipment, staffing, training, and operational capacity needed to maintain an approved firefighting water supply.
The accreditation also establishes an improved Fire Underwriters Survey dwelling protection rating for eligible properties within the service area. How that rating affects an individual property remains a decision for each insurance company. Residents may therefore wish to contact their insurer or broker to determine whether their property qualifies and whether the new rating will affect their premiums or coverage.
This accreditation is particularly important for communities served by private or co- operative water systems, and for areas where hydrants may be unavailable, out of service, or under review. It provides a recognized level of protection without requiring County taxpayers to assume responsibility for every private water system or hydrant network.
Rocky View County Fire Services is also working to expand Superior Tanker Shuttle Service accreditation to other parts of west Rocky View County, including Springbank and Bearspaw. Planning is underway for future testing based out of Springbank Fire Station 102. Subject to Fire Underwriters Survey requirements, feasibility testing is anticipated in fall 2026, with formal accreditation testing expected before spring 2027.
Superior Tanker Shuttle Service is also one of several approaches being considered through the County’s revised Fire Services Master Plan. That plan will help guide future decisions about station locations, staffing, equipment, response capacity, and access to reliable firefighting water supplies across Rocky View County’s diverse rural and country-residential communities.
Learn more about Rocky View County’s work on a revised Fire Services Master Plan with a quick search on the RVC Website.
Contact: KRHanson@RockyView.ca or call 403.463.1166.
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