The Fire Ban for Redwood Meadows has been lifted effective immediately.

Please remember that fire pits of any size require a permit from the town site. Permit application forms can be downloaded here.

Effective 6 June 2025 at 16:00, there is a Fire Ban in place for the townsite of Redwood Meadows.

No open fires, the use of firepits, or solid fuel barbecues (charcoal briquettes) are allowed.

Liquid fuel barbecues (propane and natural gas) are allowed.

Please check this page for a list of prohibited activities and exceptions to the fire ban.

By-Law #98-2:

- Violations: Illegal burning fine $100 / per incident

- Violations: Attendance by fire department for illegal burning  Contract Rates / per incident

This fire ban shall remain in effect until such time as The Townsite deems appropriate as authorized by the Redwood Meadows Fire Department.

Call 9-1-1 for emergencies.

Falls from windows are more common than people might think. According to a report by SafeKids Worldwide, more than 3,300 children are injured annually from falling out of windows.

Here are some tips to protect children from accidental window falls:

• Keep windows closed and locked when young children are around.
• While opening windows for ventilation, use those located out of a child’s reach.
• Supervise children to keep child’s play away from windows, balconies and patio doors.
• Don’t place furniture near windows that young children can climb on to gain access.
• Don’t allow children to jump on beds or furniture to help reduce potential for falls.
• Don’t rely on insect screens; they are designed to keep bugs out, not to keep children in.
• Install window guards with quick release mechanisms to prevent how far the window will open, but able to be overridden in case of fire or other emergencies.
• Loose or looped cords pose a strangulation risk to children. Use only cordless window coverings or those with inaccessible cords in homes with young children.

Windows are a lifeline in an emergency:

• Create a home fire escape plan that includes 2 exits from every room in your home, through a door and a window.
• Practice your fire escape plan during the day and at night as many home fires occur at night.
• Practice opening and closing windows that may be designated emergency exits.

Stay safe!

Spring is finally here!

As you plan your Spring Cleaning To Do list, here’s some things to keep in mind:

Indoors
Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Replace the batteries if necessary and replace the entire detectors if close to expiry.
Clean debris from your clothes dryer trap and exhaust trap.
Don’t carry too much at once: Make sure you keep a hand free to hold onto the stair railing and always make sure you can see over the load you’re carrying so you don’t trip.
Follow cleaning product safety labels: Cleaning supplies can create nasty fumes so make sure you get some fresh air by opening windows, turning on the exhaust fan or placing a fan in the room.
Wear a mask when cleaning dusty areas: This may seem like overkill, but if you are at all allergic to dust this tip is important.
Review contents of emergency kits and refresh as necessary.

Outdoors
Be safe on ladders and step stools. Always have someone nearby to hold them steady during use.
Remove dead leaves and other debris around foundations, decks, porches and stairs. Make a note of boards that need to be replaced or repaired on stairs and decks.
Walk your property and note any FireSmart refreshing that needs to be done: tree branches that need to be trimmed that are close to the ground or touching your home need to be removed, winter wood piles that need to be moved away from your home and maintaining a clearing around your home free from trees and shrubs.
Clear your eavestroughs and roof of debris.
Check grills for rust, worn pieces, insects, grease and other debris before usage. Grills should only be used 3 metres (10 feet) away from your home or any building.
Get household hazardous waste materials out of your garage and to your local Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Site. Note: In the Bragg Creek area, this is the Waste Transfer station – not RMES.
Schedule annual maintenance appointments for vehicles and review emergency kit contents.

There are an estimated 3,200 fire departments in Canada, approximately 80% of these are staffed by volunteer firefighters. As a volunteer-driven organization, Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (RMES) responded to 458 calls for help last year.

Every year, Canadian firefighters are injured or killed in the line of duty. This month, we’re giving some tips to protect your volunteer firefighters as we do our work.

SLOW DOWN. AND THEN SLOW DOWN SOME MORE: One of the most dangerous parts of our job is doing traffic management at motor vehicle incidents. When you see emergency vehicles on the highway, slow down well in advance. The slower the better when we have team members on slippery highways and focused on quickly grabbing equipment from trucks! Resume speed only when you are well clear. Treat every firefighter you see working on the highway as a family member, neighbour or friend – because we are all of these to someone in the community.

FOLLOW FIRST RESPONDER DIRECTIONS: Follow the directions of the first responders. Don’t stop to take pictures (we aren’t that good looking!) and don’t ignore their instructions because you feel they’re meant for vehicles and you’re riding a bicycle or walking.

MOVE OUT OF THE WAY – IT’S THE LAW: When you see the big red trucks heading to someone else’s emergency with lights flashing, pull over to the right side of the road and STOP, until the emergency vehicle passes. Once the truck passes, check your mirrors to ensure more emergency vehicles aren’t following before resuming speed.

KEEP YOUR DRIVEWAYS AND PATHS CLEARED OF SNOW AND ICE: Sliding is fun on sleds and skates in the winter, but not down snowy driveways in firetrucks or while carrying emergency gear. If you know of a neighbor with mobility issues, be a snow angel and help them keep their paths and hydrant access points clear of snow and ice.