The City of Thompson and Vale Manitoba Operations have entered into a formal fire protection agreement.

The resolution was passed at Tuesday’s regular meeting of council.

Ian Graham, Communications Manager for the City, explains how the agreement works.

“That agreement spells out how Thompson Fire and Emergency Services and Vale Manitoba Operations Emergency Services can request each other’s assistance, who will be in command of equipment in different circumstances, how long assistance can last and then the duration of the agreement as well as how either party can opt out of it if they wanted too.”   

Over the years, both entities have called on one another to assist with emergencies.

Those include the 2008 Mill Fire at Vale, the 2018 Interior Inn Fire, the 2023 fires at Shoppers Drug Mart and McMunn and Yates, and the 2024 Westwood Elementary School Fire.