Photo courtesy CHAT News Today (Ross Lavigne)

By Erika Rolling

Emergency Services

Fire stations in MD of Greenview piloting Green Light program

Oct 19, 2022 | 11:50 AM

Drivers in the MD of Greenview may be seeing flashing green lights in specific vehicles in the near future as volunteer firefighters in the process of heading to an emergency or station can use them in a pilot program.

On November 1, the Greenview Fire Rescues Services is launching the Volunteer Firefighter Green Light program.

A flashing green light will be displayed on a volunteer firefighter’s personal vehicle to alert pedestrians and motorists with a visual that they are in transit to an emergency situation.

Regional Fire Chief Wayne Brown says it does not give the firefighters the right to speed and they still must obey traffic laws.

“It’s not common up in northern Alberta. I do know that Fox Creek runs a green light program, but as you work your way south it’s very common in volunteer fire departments in southern Alberta.”

Brown says the program is being piloted in all three fire stations in Grovedale, DeBolt, and Grande Cache.

“We’ve issued two green lights to each of the three fire stations to try it as a pilot till the end of the year and see where we’re at.”

He says he is hoping the public can become educated on what the green flashing light represents so firefighters can get to a scene safely and promptly.

“We are going to have to take some time to get the communications right so we can get cooperation from the public.”

Since the program is in a piloting phase, Brown does say if it becomes permanent it would be a good idea to make presentations to school-aged children to learn about the importance of the flashing green lights at a young age.

“They can take that messaging home to their families, so we could get a stronger uptake,” Brown says it would be a good idea for future reference.