We Are Now Recruiting
You Can Make A Difference In Our Community!
Become A Volunteer Firefighter in The Blue Mountains
If you…
You may be an ideal candidate for becoming part of our team as a volunteer firefighter.
Please visit the Town's Employment page for the 2021 Volunteer Firefighter Job Posting and details: https://www.thebluemountains.ca/employment-opportunities.cfm?is=2
No, we will provide all necessary firefighting and first aid training. Any relevant past experience or training may help you in the selection process, but we do welcome applications from potential volunteers of any experience level.
Yes, Volunteer Firefighters are paid for emergency responses and attendance at training sessions. As per government legislation, the first $1,000.00 of income is tax-free.
Our training program consists of a 10 week Recruit Training Course, consisting of one three-hour session per week. Successful graduates of the recruit course will then join the regular training program, which involves a two - three hour practice session each Monday evening. Additional training sessions are held occasionally on weekends.
The training program also has an online training module; basic computer skills are required and the ability to access a device for use for completing online training and communicating by email with the Fire Services Department is required.
Emergency calls may happen at any time and Firefighters are expected to attend as many calls as they can. We are never sure of the frequency and length of the calls, but on average our firefighters log 125 hours per year.
Yes. Additional training opportunities are available and our Fire Department encourages this kind of professional development! Training opportunities include courses at the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst, as well as programs offered by other jurisdictions within the Province. Volunteer firefighters are encouraged to attend these programs, and the costs to attend these courses are covered by the Fire Department.
Firefighting is a strenuous job, performed in hostile environments in extremely stressful situations. It is important that potential volunteers be capable of handling these stresses, both physically and mentally.
Frequent heavy lifting and other "heavy" work is required, all while wearing approximately 80 pounds of protective equipment. Anyone who has acrophobia (fear of heights) or claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces) would not be suitable for the job.
We require a letter from a Physician and a Medical Examination Report form completed stating that you are physically able to work as a firefighter, as a condition of employment. This will be required once you have advanced to Stage 2 of our recruitment process. Additionally, you are required to successfully complete a modified Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT).
You can visit the Town's employment opportunities page for more information on how to apply.
In addition to a completed application, you will also need to provide a Driver's Abstract (available from the Ministry of Transportation) and a detailed resume.
We also ask that you possess, or be able to acquire, a DZ class driver's license. In order to be eligible to apply for a DZ driver's licence, applicants must:
The Fire Department will assist applicants with obtaining this licence.
We ask that only those living in The Blue Mountains apply. This is to ensure that a reasonable response time be maintained.
If you live in an area of the Town which would prevent a quick response to one of the Fire Stations ( i.e. more than 10 km from one of the stations and travel time over 5 minutes) you may not be suitable for the position.
