Podcast: ‘Charge into fire safety’ with Red Deer County Fire Chief Drayton Bussiere

Red Deer County Fire Chief Drayton Bussiere says that means they’re strongly promoting lithium ion battery-related safety to residents.

“The biggest thing with batteries in general, but especially with lithium-ion batteries, is using them as they’re intended, and what we mean by that is a few things: Don’t buy knockoffs available on the internet for cheap, charge DeWalt batteries, for example, with a DeWalt charger, and charge your batteries on a hard surface,” he says.

“We’re finding it fairly common that people are charging their cell phones in their beds, and putting them under their pillows. Those batteries will overheat and ultimately can start a fire or injure someone. Anything with a rechargeable battery is potentially a risk if used inappropriately.”

There are a host of other fire prevention-related topics, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and ensuring you have an escape plan for yourself and/or your family.

You can read more about that here.

Meantime, Red Deer County is hosting a series of open houses at its various fire halls, starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 11.

Red Deer Fire Department is hosting an open house Oct. 4, from 11-3 at Station 3 (100 Lees Street).

As is the Blackfalds Fire-Rescue, from 11-4 on Oct. 4 at 4401 South Street.

Sylvan Lake Fire is also hosting an open house on Oct. 9 from 3:30-7:30 at the Sylvan Lake Fire Hall (2 Beacon Hill Drive).

Hear our full conversation with Fire Chief Drayton Bussiere on the Oct. 3, 2025 episode of The Everything Red Deer Podcast!

(Photo on right courtesy Red Deer County)

by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Podcast: ‘Charge into fire safety’ with Red Deer County Fire Chief Drayton Bussiere

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