Your Fire Department

Our service area includes the City and RM of Portage la Prairie, Dakota Tipi First Nation, and Long Plain Urban Reserve. We cover an area of approximately 864 square miles and a population of approximately 20,000 people.

Portage Fire Department employs 16 full-time firefighters (called career firefighters) and currently has 18 paid on-call positions filled. The department holds training night twice a month for part-time staff to complete exercises and train in various scenarios they may encounter.

Our department offers the following services:

• Fire Suppression & Prevention

• Fire Investigations

• Vehicle Extrication

• Haz-Mat Operations

• Water and Ice Rescue

• Confined Space Technical Rescue

• Industrial, Business and Home Fire and Safety Inspections

• Youth Fire Stop Program

• Public Education Presentations

In 2022 we responded to 495 calls and completed 336 Fire inspections in the City, RM, and Long Plain Urban Reserve.

We handled 148 after-hours phone calls for issues related to animal control, waterworks, transportation, hydro and various alarms.

The Fire Department fixed and sold 69 bikes for the 2022 annual Burn Fund Bike Auction in May. In addition, we took in 88 bicycles from the community and the RCMP to be used for this year. Three bicycles were donated to a Ukrainian family and approximately $4,000 was raised for the Fire Fighter Burn Fund.

Many bicycles we receive are damaged, so we salvage them and use the parts to fix bikes for the following year. Who fixes the bikes? Our full time and part time firefighters volunteer their time to ensure bikes we auction are saleable!

2023 is our 44th year for the Burn Fund Bike Auction. This community event provides affordable bicycles for the community.

IT’S

FIRE PIT SEASON!

Pick up a permit for your fire pit at the firehall from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We will arrange to inspect it FREE of charge.

Fire pits within city limits must be approved by a fire inspector. Failure to obtain a fire pit permit can result in a $50 fine.

Please do not burn these prohibited materials:

• rubbish

• garden refuse, lawn clippings, leaves

• manure

• livestock or animal carcasses

• any material classified as a dangerous good (roofing materials, insulation from electrical wiring, hydrocarbons, plastics, rubber materials, creosote wood (rail ties) or any similar material.

Tours And Events

The Director of Public Safety/Fire Chief oversees the approval of all parades within the city limits. Last year we approved 10 Community events including the Santa Clause Parade, Diwali Fireworks and five separate Indigenous-led walks for awareness and anti-racism.

The Department participated in the Santa Clause Parade where our firefighters decorated the Aerial Truck with more than 2,000 lights. We handed out treats to families while riding our quad alongside the fire truck.

Fire Safety Trailer firefighters make presentations at every school in our district for Fire Safety Week. In addition, we attend Farm Safety Days. Last year we presented to more than 1,050 adults and children.