As Emergency Preparedness Week gets underway across Canada, the Kindersley Fire Department is using the occasion to remind residents that the time to plan for a disaster is before one strikes.
“We always hope emergencies don’t happen,” said Fire Chief Jeff Soveran. “But if they do, you want to have supplies on hand to look after your family, your pets, and yourself for up to 72 hours.”
In West Central Saskatchewan, that could mean preparing for events like extreme cold snaps, power outages, summer storms or tornadoes. Soveran says a basic emergency kit should include food, water, blankets, and pet supplies, along with seasonal considerations—like candles and a shovel in winter, or bottled water and a backup power source in summer.
While Emergency Preparedness Week runs May 5–11 nationally, Kindersley Fire’s commitment to community safety runs year-round, especially through its public education efforts.
Their pride and joy? A fully equipped education trailer that’s become a travelling classroom for fire safety across Saskatchewan.
“I’d argue it’s one of the best in Western Canada—definitely in the province,” Soveran said. “It’s geared at kids, but adults benefit from it too. The goal is to teach children how to get out of a burning building safely, recognize hazards, and then take those lessons home.”
And kids, Soveran joked, are relentless. “They’re sponges. If they learn something in that trailer, they’re going home and bugging their parents about the smoke alarm, how to escape, and whether they have a safety plan. That’s the kind of pestering we love to see.”
From escape ladders to smoke alarm placement to storing emergency info in your smartphone, the sessions the fire department teaches are hands-on and practical.
“Emergency preparedness isn't just about big events like wildfires,” Soveran said. “It’s also about being ready for the everyday emergencies—because once you’re in it, it’s too late to go pack a bag.”
The fire department encourages schools and community organizations to connect with them to book the trailer or learn more about emergency preparedness.
For more information, visit the Kindersley Fire Department’s Facebook page.