Integrated Fire-EMS model: Spruce Grove residents bring concerns to city council
Posted August 18, 2026 10:59 am.
Spruce Grove residents concerned with the potential end of integrated Fire-EMS paramedic teams took those complaints to those in charge on Monday.
In May, city council voted to move away from its integrated Fire-EMS model and hand the responsibility to the province due to funding changes.
Some residents are urging city council to reverse its decision and keep services as they are, arguing the change could impact response times and level of care.
“My husband had a cardiac arrest at home, and integrated services were there within four minutes and saved his life. That is my safety net and it’s being taken away from me,” said Shannon Higgins, who helped create the group Save Spruce Grove Fire/EMS.
“When you call 911, that’s your worst day of your life. You want to know that those ambulances and that integrated services is going to be right there with advanced life support. Not basic, advanced. We need that to save our lives.”
The funding changes meant multiple other municipalities would be getting less than what they were getting from the province. Strathcona County and St. Albert both decided to keep its integrated Fire-EMS teams, whereas Leduc opted not to.
Spruce Grove residents who are critical of the change have been wanting to share their concerns directly with the mayor and council. They got their chance Monday evening.
Spruce Grove Mayor Jeff Acker says the province has agreed to pause the transition one month, to Nov. 1, while a review is underway, and a pause for up to two years.
But Higgins says council can do the right thing and reverse the decision. She says she’s more than OK with paying a little more in property tax to fund it.
“You know what… $6 a month per household. I’m sorry, I’ll pay that every day and every day,” she said.
