Many communities across southern Alberta rely on volunteer firefighters — including the villages of Standard and Beiseker.
Standard Fire Chief Mark Duguay says the organization has 13 members who respond to calls across Wheatland County.
"There's structure fires, there's grass fires, wildland fires — whatever we're called to. Medicals, whatever they need us to go out to, we go out to."
Standard firefighters were among the crews who helped put out a blaze that destroyed a building in Gleichen on Monday, April 7.
In Beisker, a total of 83 firefighter also respond to calls on a volunteer basis.
"We're not paid on call. It's 100 per cent volunteer," said Fire Chief Nikki King.
The department provides rescue, emergency medical, fire suppression, and prevention services 24/7, seven days a week.
The organization recently introduced the Morgan Kitchen Memorial Award in honour of the firefighter who tragically passed away battling wildfires in Jasper in 2024.
