Selection of location for new Lacombe fire hall is en route

The report from a consultancy called Darkhorse identified seven locations.

At the top of the heap is 50 Street and 54 Avenue, however, the rankings were based on things like response times; the report notes this location wouldn’t be feasible due to its close proximity to school and playground zones.

An infographic shows notable demand locations for Lacombe Fire Department response. The current fire station is located within circle #1, but it is aging and not suitable for the size of the city. (Image Credit: City of Lacombe/Darkhorse Emergency)

At a recent meeting, council asked administration to come back with a report following further review of three sites the Darkhorse report recommends.

Those are: the previously noted 4410 Woodland Drive ballpark site, Michener Park, and the north section of Lacombe’s airport.

On Woodland Drive, the report states:

Of the proposed locations, 4410 Woodland Drive provides the most central coverage of Lacombe, with access to multiple arterial roads to support demand both within and beyond the city. The site is located between planned future developments, offering moderate access to these areas without being specifically oriented toward any single development.

On Michener:

Michener Park offers competitive access to central downtown demand; however, other locations are better positioned to serve incoming developments. In addition, this site has location constraints associated with its low-lying geography and its over-reliance on access via 50th Avenue.

On the airport:

The Airport location is well positioned to address demand from emerging northern developments; however, its distance from the highest-density demand in the city centre and new developments in the south limits its overall effectiveness as a potential site.

The additional review is anticipated to come back to council in the coming weeks, with a final recommendation for them to consider.

Other locations no longer under consideration include Highway 12 & Wolf Creek Drive, Len Thompson Drive, and Midway Centre.

Mayor Thalia Hibbs, in an interview with rdnewsNOW, noted it’s “regrettable” that this process has taken so long, but she’s relieved that there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.

Interestingly, the Darkhorse report looked at rates of incidents in the city of about 14,000. Its ranking and mapping were based on the city reaching 18,000 people with current and future growth.

Incidents have grown by an average of 7.2 per cent annually since 2019, when there were 294 which Lacombe Fire Department responded to. In 2025, there were 445.

Fire incidents, specifically, have also risen in recent years. There were 75 in 2025, 66 in 2024, 76 in 2023, and around 50 the four years prior.

Most of the calls within the city last year were for alarms at 162. There were 32 for fire, and 27 for EMS.

Outside the city, but within the Lacombe County zone this department also responds to, the top three types of calls were MVCs at 60, fires at 42, and finally alarms at 21.

The City told rdnewsNOW last year they hope the new hall could be move-in ready by the end of 2026.

The full Darkhorse report, which also includes metrics on response times, can be read below

by Josh Hall

Selection of location for new Lacombe fire hall is en route

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