Fire Services Cost Recovery

• The cost for most services will be recouped via insurance policies already in place to cover these types of incidents (e.g. structure fires, motor vehicle fires). We will invoice registered owners or property owners. 
  
  
• All residents and businesses are advised to ensure that they have appropriate insurance coverage in place. The intent is for individuals to pass on these costs to their insurance companies.
  
  
• A notable exception is for cases of deliberate or negligent action:
  • In cases where the response has been required for negligent or deliberate actions, or where individuals have not taken reasonable safety precautions and caused an emergency, full cost recovery will be sought from the individual responsible.

We only invoice for nuisance alarms (aka. multiple visits) or false alarms where the investigation time is over 1 hour.

• Costs will not be recouped for the first annual residential or business false alarm.
• Costs will be recouped, however, for any subsequent false alarm call-outs that year.

Please refer to our Fire Services and Emergency Response policy and bylaw, as well as the Rates and Fees Bylaw.

• Fire Services and Emergency Response Policy
• Fire Protection and Emergency Response Bylaw
• Rates and Fees Bylaw

Most home and auto insurance plans will cover these costs. Please speak with your insurance company.

If you are still have questions or concerns, you can contact Lacombe County Fire Services as lcfs@lacombecounty.com or by calling 403-782-8959.

Yes.  It is common practice for municipal fire services to recover costs in this manner.

For example, the following municipalities in our region all have similar fire cost recovery arrangements already in place:

• Parkland County
• Sturgeon County
• City of Leduc
• City of St Albert
• City of Fort Saskatchewan
• Leduc County
• City of Spruce Grove
• Strathcona County

Please see the Rates and Fees Bylaw for specific Fire Response costs.