Presidents Message & Our Vision

Message from the AFA President - updated 2022

It is my hope that Alberta Fire Aid can help departments who are struggling to find budgets to properly equip their members and apparatus. I have seen first hand how many organizations are equipped with just the basics, with out dated equipment, or with inadequate equipment to perform their job.

Being a firefighter and paramedic myself, I have visted countless small rural fire departments in First Nations, towns, and villages across the province. Seeing the unsafe equipment and lack of turnout gear in these departments struck home with me and has been my ever lasting drive to help get these firefighters the tools and PPE to help protect themselves, so that they can help their community.

Being a volunteer in my home town has also allowed me to see the inner workings of the very limited budgets that departments are forced to work with. Ballooning costs for PPE and equipment has forced departments to put money where is emergently needed, often leaving gaps that need filling. I hope that over time, AFA can help fill those gaps.

The goal of any department regardless of whether they are paid, paid on call, or volunteer, is to serve their communities to the best of their abilities. The capability of a department to do this is based on a diverse range of factors that include membership, training, commitment, and the equipment that is used to perform their duties.

It is my hope that AFA will become a organization that can be called upon by departments in need of assistance for items that may not be obtainable by their current budgets.

So that the AFA can help others, I am calling upon departments, municipalities, and corporations across Alberta to consider us when equipment or gear becomes available or after it's respective life or budget cycle.

Through a collaborative approach we can all help the Alberta Fire Service be a safe and effective place to work or volunteer.

Dean Dumbeck

President

Alberta Fire Aid

Our Vision

Alberta Fire Aid was developed after witnessing first hand many fire departments in Alberta who are getting by with the bare minimums or often with below standard equipment and clothing.

While most departments generally meet OH&S standards, many departments are left unable to obtain items that they need to assist their communities or could use to improve firefighter safety. Some of this equipment that the departments currently operate with are out of date or are past their service lives. Departments are often forced to “make-do” with antiquated or insufficient equipment or gear.

Our primary mission and hope is that Alberta Fire Aid can provide a functional and useful second life for equipment and PPE in the fire service here in Alberta. Secondarily, when possible, we hope to assist other organizations in finding homes for equipment across Canada and the World. We hope to act as a facilitator and resource for corporations or municipalities by giving them a place to disperse & donate equipment that they are no longer using.

Alberta Fire Aid is a 100% not for profit organization. All of the AFA members are volunteers and donate their time to the Society.