The Town of Hay River, Northwest Territories, is asking all residents to take a simple but critical step: check your emergency contact numbers before you need them. On June 26, 2026, the town posted an announcement on its official website about a new emergency dispatch number, signaling a change in how people reach police, fire, and ambulance services.
The posting on the Town of Hay River website states: “The Town of Hay River has a New Dispatch Number for Emergency Services. Please note: If you have any emergency numbers displayed in your home or saved in your phone, please ensure they are updated. The old numbers will no longer be in service.” The new dispatch number is 867-875-2222.
The change affects the entire community. For years, Hay River has used separate local numbers: 874-2222 for fire and ambulance, and 874-1111 for the RCMP. A territory-wide 9-1-1 service has been available since November 2019, but many residents may still have the old numbers saved. The town now advises that those old numbers will be decommissioned, and residents should use the new dispatch number instead.
Hay River, with about 3,500 residents, is the second-largest community in the Northwest Territories. Its Hay River Fire Department relies on 29 Paid on Call members who respond across roughly 800 kilometres of highway, often handling medical calls, fires, and rescues under challenging conditions. A full fire ban was also issued on the same day as the dispatch announcement, highlighting summer fire risk.
The town’s Local Emergency Management Organization regularly updates the Community Emergency Plan to prepare for floods, wildfires, and other threats. Officials encourage residents to update their emergency numbers now and share the information with neighbours who may not be online.
Residents can find the updated dispatch number and additional emergency resources on the Town of Hay River’s website.
