Higher call numbers for GP Fire Department & Enforcement Services

May 31, 2018 | 6:37 AM

Both the Grande Prairie Fire Department and Enforcement Services are reporting higher call numbers in the first quarter of the year.

According to the quarterly statistics, Grande Prairie Fire Department says fire chief Preben Bossen says calls to 911 have increased by 734 compared to this time last year and medical co-response calls have increased by 242.

“And it is general probably across the province of Alberta, just a sign of the busier time and probably more people moving to the province for work, so that’s probably the cause of what we see there.”

Enforcement Services is also recording an increase in calls so far this year with just 1102 calls for service and investigations up by 295 from 2017 numbers.

“I do think a bit of it is around public engagement and neighbourhood associations, we have really been encouragement through outreach for people to engage people to report things that are of concern to them.”

He says also up are the number of reported abandoned vehicles.

“The increase is likely related to the number of people that are in town but working out of town, so camp workers are pretty prominent offenders of leaving their vehicles parked. We really encourage people, if they know they are going to be away for a long period of time to find parking locations off public roads, either at your business or on a driveway, garage.”

by Glory Przekop