The High Prairie Volunteer Fire Department. In the front row, left-right, are Braden Springer, William Foster [junior firefighter], Jesse Nobert [junior firefighter], David Martinson, Joe Villa, and Cpt. Jason Cottingham. Standing in the middle row, left-right, are Wade Fjeld, Lt. Mike Caron, Doug Foster, Chantel Ayles, Zac Hamelin, Ernie Payou, Brandon Letendre, Cpt. Dan Gillmor, and fire chief Ken Melnyk. Standing at the back row are Shawn Gassl, left, and deputy fire chief Trevor Cisaroski. Missing are John Paddon, Lucy Martinson, Nick Honour, Dan Onaczyszyn, Tony Belli, Dustin Burgar, Garnett Culver, Jake Matula, Cody Robinson, Paul Brydson, Tristan Dow, James Waikle, Jed Cardinal [junior firefighter ] and auxiliary member Stephanie Dube.

The High Prairie Volunteer Fire Department responded to consider- ably fewer calls this year.

“I’m really surprised how quiet it has been so far this year,” says fire chief Ken Melnyk.

For the first nine months of 2016, the department has responded to 75 calls.

“Usually by this time of year, we’re well over 100,” Melnyk says.

Over the past several years, the department has averaged 130-140 calls.

Records show that the majority of calls are for motor vehicle collisions and grassfires.

“For as dry as it was this year, we’re happy that we didn’t get as many grassfires,” Mel- nyk says.

While most other fire departments in the Peace Country have reported an increase in calls, he’s not sure why the local trend is down.

He hopes it’s the fire department’s efforts to promote fire prevention.

An open house breakfast is being planned for Oct. 16. The fire department will make presentations to students in Grades 1-3 at High Prairie Elementary School and at St. Andrew’s School.

Despite the lower level of calls, the fire chief says he always welcomes more members.

Currently, the department has 26 regular members and three juniors.

“I want to have a full roster of 36 firefighters,” Melnyk says.

“It means less work for everyone.”

The fire department practices the first and third Monday of each month and 7 p.m.

While serving the Town of High Prairie, the fire department also covers the western portion of Big Lakes County and east to the boundaries of Grouard, Enilda, and East Prairie Metis Settlement.

For more information, phone Melnyk at [780] 523-3525 or [780] 523-7733 [cell phone].

The High Prairie department has operated since 1945.