If your dream job is to become a firefighter, there are a couple recruitment sessions you'll want to pencil into your calendar.
Chatham-Kent’s Fire-Paramedic Chief Bob Crawford says the Firefighter Recruitment Information Session begins at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre's Council Chambers on Saturday, June 23 at 9am. He says a second information session will be hosted during the evening hours of Tuesday, June 26 in the same place.
At the sessions, there will be a brief presentation outlining the process for recruitment and opportunities to have questions answered by fire administration. Everyone is welcome, including students who are still in school.
"We want it to be as inclusive as possible. We want to attract as many people to compete as we can," explains Crawford. "Anybody who wants to do this, we want to make sure we explain carefully all the steps that we're looking at and how they might be able to negotiate their way through it."
Crawford says there are about 70 paid full-time firefighters in Chatham-Kent and a career generally lasts a little over 30 years. On average, the municipality usually hires two to three new firefighters annually.
Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services staff. (Photo courtesy of CKFES).
He says there are no current vacancies, but there will likely be some beginning this summer. Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services (CKFES) is currently recruiting for two assistant chief officers and two training officers.
Applications will be distributed to those interested at the session and should be submitted with a detailed resume and certificates. He says applications can be submitted by email at ckresume@chatham-kent.ca, in-person, or by mail to the Civic Centre. Applications will be accepted until August 31.
Crawford says candidates must undergo rigorous testing.
"They have to attend and pass Ontario Fire Administration candidate testing. This is conducted now near Pearson Airport. There's different stages in that and there's some costs involved with it," he says.
Below is a list of desired qualifications:
- Journeyman certificate
- Firefighter training
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification
- Experience as a full-time firefighter; including military, seasonal, forestry, paid on call, volunteer lifeguard, ski patrol, search and rescue
- Experience in Emergency Services or uniformed Public Servant roles (Law Enforcement, Military, Corrections, Park Ranger, Peace Officer)
- Cadet Program (Fire, Police, Sea, Air, Army, etc)
"We get a group of qualified people into a pool," he says. "Then over the next few years as retirements take place, rather than having to do this whole process each time, we simply go back to the pool and take a candidate."
Once a group of candidates is selected, Crawford says interviews will be held the first week of October.
Crawford recommends people attending the session bring a notebook and take note of the various websites and resources available.
He adds that if anyone is experiencing a barrier in the application process and needs extra assistance, you can reach out to CKFES for accommodation.