Coalhurst Fire Department shares fire safety message during Fire Prevention Week Oct. 5-11

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

It’s been a steady year for the Coalhurst Fire Department, that included upgrading uniforms and dress uniforms, acquiring new boots and coveralls for fighting wildland fires and continuing their community outreach during Fire Prevention Week, which takes place this month Oct. 5-11.  

“Basically (we had) some safety equipment upgrades for our personnel is kind of what we’ve been doing this year,” said Town of Coalhurst fire chief Mitch Sorsdahl, noting the department currently has a total of 24 volunteer firefighters, including six new recruits. 

“You don’t have to have any training to join the fire department. Like all the other departments, we’ll provide that training in-house or through courses with our partner departments,” he said, adding they also run various courses including  hazardous awareness and operations for HAZMAT goods, and general training courses for firefighters. “We train every Wednesday night for at least two hours from 7-9 p.m.” 

Sorsdahl said each year Fire Prevention Week focuses on a relevant topic, and this year’s theme, “Charge Into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home” is something that people need to know. 

 “Nowadays everything we have is powered by lithium batteries so it’s good to have battery safety because a lot of things that people don’t think about (is) how dangerous those batteries can be if they’re improperly stored and improperly charged,” explained Sorsdahl, pointing out larger devices like hoverboards and scooters may pose a bigger danger than others. “They have a fairly big battery in that if it’s not properly maintained or charged, can cause a severe safety risk, just due to to malfunction of the battery.” 

He said it is important to bring awareness to a potential hazard that people may not recognize.  

“It’s a very relevant topic today and batteries are in everything nowadays so it affects everybody,” said Sorsdahl.  

This year, the Coalhurst Fire Department sent a crew of four up to Yellowhead County earlier this spring to assist with the wildfires up north and the Nobleford Fire Department also sent two of its firefighters as well. 

“It’s a mixed bag when you get up there. You’re given a task and it’s something you don’t get to do often or (something) you’ve never seen before,” he said. “It’s usually a challenge … it keeps them interested and they like helping out.” 

For more than 25 years, the Coalhurst Fire Department has focused on community outreach during Fire Prevention Week, attending the local elementary school where they talk with students in Kindergarten to Grade 4 about fire safety.   

“We’ve been doing fire prevention fairly consistently, for the last 25 years. We try and get out (to the school) every year,” said Sorsdahl. “The kids look forward to it and we do too.”