Firefighter struck during Alberta highway collision response

A firefighter in Strathcona County, Alta., was struck while responding to a highway collision, underscoring ongoing risks for emergency responders working in live-traffic environments.

The incident occurred on Highway 16 when “a passing vehicle hit the department’s command vehicle, which had been positioned to provide advance warning.” The collision caused the firefighter to be struck. Strathcona County Fire Fighter/Paramedics reported the event in a social media post on Friday, 9 January.

The firefighter did not suffer serious injuries, the department said

Rising collision responses and operational demand

The incident comes as Alberta fire departments, including Airdrie Fire Department, are handling a growing number of motor vehicle collision responses, many of them on high-speed corridors where crews work in close proximity to moving traffic.

Year-end data from Airdrie Fire Department show firefighters responded to 3,359 events in 2025, a 14.019 per cent increase over 2024, according to Discover Airdrie. The department reported that structure fires, alarms and motor vehicle collisions are all increasing.

The 2025 figures also indicate higher demand for mutual aid, both within and outside Airdrie. Overall response times rose by 23 seconds compared with 2024, a change the department attributed to higher call volume.

_{File photo from Strathcona County Fire Fighter/Paramedics Facebook page}