Saying she was “tired of fighting an unyielding battle”, the veteran fire chief with the LaCorey Fire Department has retired and so have 10 of the department's 16 volunteer firefighters in a show of support.
Ulla Hansen, who has been a volunteer firefighter in La Corey since 1991 and has been the fire chief since 1996, said she made the decision to retire because she was “fed up” with the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority's (BFRA) lack of support for her department and other departments in the area.
In a letter addressed to MD of Bonnyville council last week, Hansen wrote “I am offended by the treatment active volunteer firefighters have received by the BFRA board and their hired bureaucrats.
“There is no question that safety issues were not being looked after for the volunteer members in the area … this council is aware that the LaCorey Fire Department has been having problems with the BFRA administration for a long time now, and I do not think this issue has now, nor ever will be addressed.”
Hansen said her decision, which she “thought long and hard about for the past several weeks”, came in large part as a result of her vocal support for the 14 Bonnyville volunteer firefighters who walked off the job voicing concerns over health and safety, and how the BFRA has responded.
“That played a huge role,” she said. “There have been some significant changes and a lot of them have been very good ones since the guys walked out, but there's still a lack of respect for many of our volunteers. And there are still some serious issues with safety I've been trying to deal with for many years that still haven't been addressed.
“There are just too many overwhelming issues I'm no longer willing to deal with at this time.”
Ernie Isley, chair of the BRFA, said Hansen has been an outspoken critic of the BRFA for a long time. While her work ethic and leadership has been appreciated, she has made a difficult decision and he's not overly disappointed she is stepping down.
“Nothing surprises me with Ulla,” he said. “I've always gotten along well with the lady, but nothing we can do as a regional authority can make her happy. She stood up recently at a public meeting and tore a strip off Ed (Rondeau, Reeve for the MD of Bonnyville and deputy chair of the BFRA) in front of his peers, which was totally uncalled for.
“I think maybe it's time to rebuild the LaCorey Fire Department and move forward from here. We thank Ulla for her years of dedicated service”
Isley said Hansen got emotionally involved in the dispute with the Bonnyville volunteers who walked out, when it was really none of her business.
“I still don't know why she got involved in the Bonnyville issue … she had no business being there and getting involved,” he said. “We've got a letter of clearance from the provincial Occupational Health and Safety stating all safety issues have been addressed and we have 110 local volunteer firefighters who are happy on the job and feel safe, but we still have a few certain people who continue to want to stir the pot.”
Hansen said she became involved in the Bonnyville dispute because issues that affect volunteer firefighters in one region of this coverage area affect all volunteers.
“The Bonnyville boys have always backed our department for years whenever there was a major fire out this way because we obviously can't handle big fires alone,” she said. “I've always been of the opinion that the regional authority was put together so all firefighters would be treated the same.
“If there are issues affecting volunteers in one fire hall, then they affect us all. What do we have a regional authority for?”
Despite some significant positive changes in terms of health and safety over the past two months, there are still issues the BRFA will not deal with, Hansen said.
“Not only has the personal safety of the area's firefighters been overlooked, but by eliminating the need for regularly scheduled fire inspections in all public places, I would suggest the basic safety of residents of our region has been compromised for over a decade now,” said Hansen in her resignation letter. “I realize it would be difficult, if not impossible, for council, in particular the senior members, to admit this.
“In admitting your employees have not been doing their jobs, you would be confirming your total lack of due diligence. So in the end, our elected officials will serve out their time. The bureaucrats they hired to look after us will eventually move on to other jobs. The volunteers will grow weary from trying to change issues that need changing and finally give up. Ultimately, it will be the community that loses.”
Brian McEvoy, BFRA fire chief, said Hansen “loves to grandstand” to make her strong opinions heard and many who know her well won't be surprised by this announcement.
That being said, Hansen was a dedicated volunteer firefighter and chief whose hard work over the past 20 years was greatly appreciated, McEvoy said.
“We appreciate the dedication of Ulla Hansen and members of her family have shown to the LaCorey Fire Department over the past 19 years and we thank her for her commitment to her community,” said McEvoy. “As a fire authority, we will work with those firefighters who are still committed to protecting public safety to the community and support them and the LaCorey Fire Department moving forward.
“We will also work to grow the department to ensure the needs of this community over the next decade. Our position is this decision has been made and we will work as a regional fire authority to ensure proper fire protection for all citizens.”
Firefighters in Iron River have always responded to any calls in the LaCorey area and those volunteers with those remaining in LaCorey can handle any regular calls that come in, said McEvoy.
The BFRA also has a working agreement with the City of Cold Lake to respond to the LaCorey-Iron River area should any major structural fire break out, he said.
