Covenant Health installs wildland fire suppression system at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital

Banff, AB - May 28, 2025: As part of ongoing efforts to find innovative approaches to health care delivery that improve outcomes for Albertans, Covenant Health recently installed a wildland fire suppression system at the Mineral Springs Hospital. The system includes 14 sprinklers, five that are permanently installed on the roof and nine on the ground. Each one goes 360 degrees and covers approximately 150 feet radius to douse embers in the event of a nearby forest fire. Wildfire management is a priority for Canadians with the goal of protecting life, property and natural resources. Proactive approaches help prevent wildfires from endangering communities and infrastructure.

View or download images and video from the demonstration.

The hospital installed the system to mitigate fire risk to the facility and surrounding area. “No one wants a fire in Banff. We know how devastating a forest fire can be to a community and how important it is to protect key infrastructure including hospitals. The new fire protection at Mineral Springs Hospital increases site, patient and staff safety, and it also will allow fire fighters to focus on protecting other parts of our community, knowing the hospital is largely self-sufficient,” explained site administrator, Margie Smith. “We are proud to be the first health care facility in Alberta to implement this proactive approach to fire safety and hope we can be a model to other sites in Alberta and across Canada.”

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, commented: “Alberta’s government continues to make critical investments to strengthen the way emergencies are handled. We applaud Covenant Health’s efforts to proactively protect critical infrastructure and ensure the safety of the hospital during wildfires.”

Keri Martens, Town of Banff fire chief, stated, “Embers from wildfire can be blown into town from kilometres away. The hospital’s efforts to reduce the risk of embers sparking a fire on the hospital or around the hospital demonstrates their leadership in community responsibility to address the risks of living in a town surrounded by forests. The sprinkler system will help Banff firefighters protect critical infrastructure during an emergency.”

The wildland fire suppression system aligns with the Town of Banff’s roof sprinkler incentive program, which enables eligible Banff homeowners to purchase a roof sprinkler kit at a reduced cost after a free FireSmart home inspection. These sprinklers work by dousing water on embers that land on roofs and can be used in the event of an advancing wildfire. Visit Banff.ca for more information.

Funding for the system was awarded to Covenant Health’s emergency disaster management (EDM) team as part of an annual safety grants program from Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC), a not-for-profit insurance provider of healthcare coverage. Successful applicants received grants of up to $20,000 to implement projects designed to enhance patient safety through innovative research and practical interventions within healthcare settings. Supplier Wholesale Fire and Rescue supported the EDM team with the installation and testing of the system.

HIROC is a trusted healthcare safety advisor that offers comprehensive insurance products and support during claims and has returned more than $260 million to the healthcare system since 1987. The HIROC Safety Grants Program, now called the Cultivate Safety Grant, has awarded more than $1 million to a wide variety of candidates since 2018, ultimately providing seed funding for innovative safety projects like the wildland fire suppression system at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. HIROC Foundation partners closely with successful applicants sharing extensive experience and lessons learned to increase safety.

HIROC chief executive officer, Catherine Gaulton explained, “We launched the HIROC Cultivate Safety Grant Program because we recognized that creating sustainable change in safety requires investment – in ideas, people and partnership. And we know how much knowledge exchange can play a role in this.” She continued, “Covenant Health’s innovation and commitment represents exactly the type of project we want to support; we are proud to partner with the team.”

Visit hiroc.com for more information about the HIROC Foundation and its Safety Grant Program.

About Covenant Health

Covenant Health is one of Canada’s largest Catholic healthcare organizations, providing compassionate care across 17 sites in Alberta. Committed to serving the whole person - body, mind, and soul. Covenant Health focuses on acute care, mental health services, continuing care, palliative care, and rural health.

Media inquiries

Janet Laurie
Covenant Health Communications
780.690.2841