The City of Burlington's Fire Department offers many different career options. Join a team that is committed to creating safer, empowered communities. Explore our career opportunities and learn how to apply.
View the different career opportunities available with our Fire department. Find job overviews and their necessary skills and qualifications.
Career Firefighter |
Career firefighters serve the community by responding to a wide variety of emergencies. They perform first response or support duties in the following categories:
Career firefighters also provide public community education and community support activities. Job overviewBeing a career firefighter requires a significant commitment to both train and respond to emergency incidents. Your safety and that of your fellow firefighters and the public depend on the skills you will learn, maintain and improve. Career firefighters work on a 24-hour shift rotation among a four-platoon system. Firefighter crews respond from eight strategically placed fire stations 24-hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Skills and qualificationsCareer Firefighters must be certified in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards and the Canadian Heart and Stroke Emergency Medical Responder Standards for BLS and First Aid. These are skill requisites which career firefighters will achieve during their recruit training. To qualify to be a career firefighter, you must:
Additional preferred qualifications include:
You may also be given other tests designed to measure your:
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Volunteer Firefighter |
Volunteer Firefighters serve the community by responding to a wide variety of emergency situations in conjunction with our career staff. They perform first response or support duties in the following categories:
The Burlington Fire Department consists of both career and volunteer firefighters. New recruits will be assigned to Fire Headquarters or Fire Station No. 5, based on where they live and if they meet the response criteria for the corresponding station. Job overviewBeing a volunteer firefighter requires a significant commitment of time to both training and responding to emergency incidents. Your safety and that of your fellow firefighters and the public depends on the skills you will learn, maintain and improve. Volunteer Firefighters are on call 365 days a year including holidays, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Skills and qualificationsVolunteer Firefighters must be certified in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards and the Canadian Heart and Stroke Emergency Medical Responder Standards. These are skill requisites which volunteer firefighters will achieve during their recruit training. To qualify to be a volunteer firefighter, you must:
Additional preferred qualifications include:
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Fire Mechanic (EVT) |
A fire mechanic ensures that all equipment is fully operational and ready to be used in an emergency. Job overviewA fire mechanic is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of all fire department vehicles and equipment, including pumpers, aerials tankers and support vehicles. They are also responsible for the inspection and maintenance of all support equipment, which includes rotary saws, chain saws, extrication equipment and appliances used to support emergency incidents. The fire mechanic documents all work and inspections in the corporate maintenance software as well as issue parts inventory to work orders. Skills and qualificationsSkilled Trades Ontario ensures that all mechanics have the legally required training and certifications to practice in Ontario. The Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Program is an excellent resource to develop the skills required to become an emergency vehicle mechanic. NFPA 1071 identifies the minimum job performance requirements for emergency vehicle technicians. To become a fire mechanic with the City of Burlington Fire department, you must:
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Fire Prevention Inspector |
The fire prevention inspector is responsible for promoting fire safety in the community through fire prevention inspections and fire code enforcement. They also heighten public awareness by giving educational presentations to various public and business groups. Job overviewA fire prevention inspector conducts comprehensive fire prevention inspections to ensure compliance with the Ontario Fire Code and other relevant standards, regulations and bylaws. The fire prevention inspector is responsible for preparing reports, reviewing fire safety plans, initiating prosecutions and giving evidence in court. Skills and qualificationsTo become a fire prevention inspector with the City of Burlington, you must have:
Valuable assets include:
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Public Education Officer (PEO) |
The Public Education Officer (PEO) is responsible for promoting fire and life safety and prevention to the community. They heighten public awareness through the design and delivery of educational presentations to various public and business groups. Job overviewThe roles of a PEO include:
Skills and qualificationsTo become a PEO with the City of Burlington fire department, you must have:
Valuable assets include:
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Telecommunicator (Dispatcher) |
Public Safety Telecommunicators (dispatchers) are the first of the first responders. A telecommunicator is typically the initial point of contact when someone calls for fire emergency assistance. Job overviewThe telecommunicator operates a variety of communications equipment, including radio consoles, telephones and a computer aided dispatch and records management system. They prioritize, initiate and coordinate the response of fire protection resources. They also manage the flow of incident-related information to and from field units and community resources. They are responsible for monitoring the status of field units and assigning additional resources as requested or required. Skills and qualificationsThe National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for Public Safety Telecommunications Personnel outline the qualifications for becoming a public safety telecommunicator. Our communicators are highly trained professionals with extensive training, who continue their dispatch education to stay current on certifications through APCO, IMS and CPR/First Aid. To become a public safety telecommunicator with the City of Burlington fire department, you must have:
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Training Officer |
The Fire Department's training division prepares crews for any one of the challenges they may encounter while in response or assistance roles. Job overviewThe Training Officer is responsible for:
Skills and qualificationsThose applying to be a training officer must have:
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