Stoney Nakoda First Nation’s Big Horn community, the remote reserve is finally getting its own fire hall, after years of relying on Clearwater County’s fire services in Nordegg, a 24-minute commute.
The development will serve a population of about 237 people, according to the latest available census data in 2016, is estimated to cost $4.2 million dollars.
The fire hall’s design is complete and will include two bays. One will allow for the storage of a fire engine, which will be acquired closer to completion around May 2024, and the other will house a wildfire bush buggy that is already owned by the Nation, but not currently housed in the community.
The goal is to have local Nation members, operate the station, who are primarily part of the Goodstoney band in Big Horn.
The fire hall will be located south of the Ta’Otha School and construction is expected to begin in June.
The project is entirely funded by Indigenous Services Canada, which visited the Big Horn community for the first time in 2019 and recognized the need for a local fire service while on an invited tour.
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