Emergency Services

Nipawin Fire Department Members

General Manager of Protective Service

Name: Paul Cockell

Telephone: 306-862-4000

Cell: 306-812-6088

Email: gm.protectiveservices@nipawin.com

Address: 744 Railway Avenue- Box 2440, Nipawin 

The Nipawin Fire Department is a paid/on call organization made up of 28 paid on-call volunteer members, a part time Deputy and a full time Fire Chief. The Officer group consists of 5 Captains. The Department also boasts 2 junior firefighters among the ranks.

Nipawin Fire protects several surrounding municipalities through a “Fire Partner” group including the RM’s of Nipawin and Torch River, the Villages of Codette, Love and White Fox as well as the Nipawin and Wapiti Regional Parks. Because of this forward thinking agreement, ratepayers do not find themselves having to pay forthe service when an incident happens as it is included in the municipal taxes.

The Department responds to various emergencies in the response area including structure and vehicle fires, wildfires, Motor Vehicle Collisions (MVC’s), HAZMAT events, medical assistance calls and landing the STARS helicopter. Nipawin Fire provides Rescue services such as vehicle extrication, water/ice rescue, confined space and low angle rope rescue.

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

Nipawin has three IFSAC certified NFPA 1041 Fire Instructors trained by the SPSA (Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency). Captains Jim Senger and Darcy McKinnon have Level 1 qualifications, Chief Cockell has Level 2 certification along with Red Cross First Aid Instructor status to train in-house.

Computer based theory training is provided through Action Online via Carlton Trail Regional College’s  licensure. This program is NFPA and IFSTA accredited. The practical portion provided in-house or via specialty instructors brought in from outside contractors, SPSA or the SVFFA (Saskatchewan Volunteer Fire Fighter Association)

The Nipawin Fire Department is a paid/on call organization made up of 28 paid on-call volunteer members, a part time Deputy and a full time Fire Chief. The Officer group consists of 5 Captains. The Department also boasts 2 junior firefighters among the ranks. Nipawin Fire protects several surrounding municipalities through a “Fire Partner” group including the RM’s of Nipawin and Torch River, the Villages of Codette, Love and White Fox as well as the Nipawin and Wapiti Regional Parks. Because of this forward thinking agreement, ratepayers do not find themselves having to pay for the service when an incident happens as it is included in the municipal taxes. The Department responds to various emergencies in the response area including structure and vehicle fires, wildfires, Motor Vehicle Collisions (MVC’s), HAZMAT events, medical assistance calls and landing the STARS helicopter. Nipawin Fire provides Rescue services such as vehicle extrication, water/ice rescue, confined space and low angle rope rescue. TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION Nipawin has three IFSAC certified NFPA 1041 Fire Instructors trained by the SPSA (Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency). Captains Jim Senger and Darcy McKinnon have Level 1 qualifications, Chief Cockell has Level 2 certification along with Red Cross First Aid Instructor status to train in-house. Computer-based theory training is provided through Action Online via Carlton Trail Regional College’s  licensure. This program is NFPA and IFSTA accredited. The practical portion provided in-house or via specialty instructors brought in from outside contractors, SPSA or the SVFFA (Saskatchewan Volunteer Fire Fighter Association).

Nipawin Fire Department Equipment

Nipawin Fire Department History

On August 14, 1934 the Council of the Village of Nipawin organized a volunteer fire brigade.

The first Fire Chief to be elected was John Preen with George Grieves acting as Deputy Chief. One of the DRIVING factors for the Departments formation was the large fire May 20, 1933 which destroyed 11 businesses along Main Street, essentially wiping out one side of the Village.

John Ruest was the longest serving fire chief and the first official member to hold a Full-time position. In 1978 Bruce Richardson was given the title of interim Fire Chief while Fire Chief Ruest was away on business.

 

Past Fire Chiefs from the Nipawin Fire Department:

John Preen: May 19, 1933 (prior to organized group) until March 31 1957

Garnet McDonald: April 1957- March 1968

Mike Yachiw: March 1968 – May 1971

John Ruest: April 1971 – 1988 

Les McGirr: Jan 1, 1989 – Jan 29, 2010

Brian Starkell: February 8, 2010 – November 1, 2019

David Balding: May 28, 2020 – July 25, 2021

Paul Cockell: March 2022 – Present