In June of 1977, the Wabasca Volunteer Fire Department was officially registered under the Ministerial Act of the Municipal Affairs Department. Servicing the then Wabasca-Desmarais and the area, the Department was headed by Bruce Rathbone as the Fire Chief and Ed Coswan as Assistant Fire Chief. In June 1979, ten volunteers from the Wabasca Fire Department underwent fire training provided by the then Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.
In November 1979, two fire incidents destroyed the Mistassiniy School and the new health clinic in Desmarais. The cause was determined to be arson in both cases. These events brought to light the importance of a well equipped and fully trained fire department, and highlighted the deficiencies in community’s water supply. Over the years the fire department slowly acquired financial assistance, equipment and trucks.
The Wabasca Fire Hall had many homes, including the transportation yard at the local Municipal District Office. The four apparatus currently in use – two pump trucks, one rescue truck, and one water tender – were acquired from Rocky Mountain Phoenix Inc starting in 2009. In 2010, the new Bruce Rathbone Fire Hall at 2135 Airport Road was completed.
Today, the department consists of a core team of dedicated firefighters and dispatchers.
