Coaldale emergency crews responded to 215 calls in the first three months of 2026, a 48 percent jump from the 145 calls they handled during the same period in 2023, according to a new report presented to town council on June 8, 2026. The increase follows a steady climb, with 151 calls in early 2024 and 172 in early 2025.
Medical calls made up the majority of the workload at 110 incidents in the first quarter of 2026, more than half of all responses. Alarms triggered 40 calls, motor vehicle collisions accounted for 23, and the rest included fires, carbon monoxide alarms, and hazardous materials situations.
The rising call volume mirrors Coaldale’s rapid growth. The town’s population reached 9,644 in 2025, making it one of southern Alberta’s fastest-growing communities. The department, which is mostly volunteer-run, has 33 active volunteers but needs about 45 to keep up. To attract more volunteers, the town offers a property tax rebate of up to $1,000 a year for those who log at least 129 service hours.
Coaldale crews also respond as medical first responders through Alberta Health Services’ Medical First Response Program, a role that has grown significantly, particularly when ambulances are unavailable. The local Coaldale Health Centre does not have an emergency department, making these first-response skills especially important.
The calls came from five areas: Coaldale itself saw 122 calls, while 42 came from the primary Lethbridge County response zone, 41 from the expanded county area, seven from the Lethbridge County North of River zone, and three through mutual aid agreements. Council received the report as information during the regular meeting.
