The Swift Current Fire Department has renewed its deal to provide rescue at the SaskPower Wind turbines facilities in the southwest.

These wind turbines are located west of Gull Lake and southeast of Swift Current. Both the Centennial and the Cypress Wind power facilities have been under the purview of the Fire Department since 2011, with that initial deal being renewed in 2019.

This time around, the deal expired on December 31, 2023. The new deal will be in effect for another four-year term.

Presenting the matter to the Swift Current city council on Monday was Swift Current Fire Department Fire Chief, Ryan Hunter.

"This arrangement is mutually advantageous," said Hunter. "[With SaskPower] contributing to the funding of firefighter training. This support is instrumental in ensuring our firefighters maintain a consistently high level of skills and proficiency."

In order to properly service the wind turbines, firefighters must be certified in level four high-incline rescue. The training to get one member to that level requires $8,000 per person. SaskPower helps pay an undisclosed amount for that training, which lessens the burden on taxpayers.

It is also of note that the agreement for rescue is just for the rescue itself. The fire department is not responsible for extinguishing the nacelles, which are the motorized upper portion of the wind turbines units, carrying the turbine blades.

City council approved the agreement, which will see services from the Swift Current Fire Department continue to be on call for the Centennial Wind Power and Cypress Wind Power facilities.