Working with the Fire Department

Career Firefighters serve the community by responding to a wide variety of situations, from emergencies that immediately threaten life or property to large-scale community emergencies. Career firefighters may perform first response or support duties in the following general categories:

• activities at emergency incidents large or small,
• emergency pre hospital medical aid,
• hazardous material incident activities,
• technical rope rescue activities, water rescue activities, and
• vehicle rescue (extrication) activities.

Community (ie: public education) and inter-community support activities may be supported, as designated.

Job Overview

Being 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 and, more importantly, maintain and improve. Career firefighters work on a shift rotation that currently includes 12 hour days and 14 hour nights. The firefighter crews respond from seven strategically placed fire stations 24 hours a day to assist the citizens of Burlington with various emergency and non-emergency needs.

Skills and Qualifications

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards for Professional Qualifications for Firefighters outlines the skill requisites that the career firefighter will achieve during recruit training. All career firefighters will be certified in compliance with NFPA standards.

The Canadian Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder Standard outlines the skill requisites that the career firefighter will achieve during recruit training for medical response. All firefighters will be certified in compliance with the Red Cross EMR program and local medical directives.

In order to qualify for selection as a career firefighter, the following requirements must be met:

• Be legally entitled to work in Canada
• Possess the prescribed visual requirements of 20/30 in each eye without corrective lenses and satisfactorily complete a colour vision test
• Be educated to a minimum of grade 12 level or equivalent
• Be capable of handling intense and sustained physical effort
• Hold and produce a valid DZ Ontario driver's licence and have a good driving record
• Understand and be able to communicate in English
• Pass a health and medical evaluation, and fitness assessment
• Be certified in CPR/first aid

Additional preferred qualifications:

• Pre-service firefighter education and training program
• Previous fire-fighting experience

You may also be given aptitude tests designed to measure your:

• Ability to understand written and verbal information and instructions
• Technical and mechanical skills
• Reading, reasoning and mathematical skills

Job Opportunities

All job opportunities are posted and advertised with the City of Burlington human resource department: www.burlington.ca/careers

Please check the city's website often for volunteer opportunities: www.burlington.ca/careers

Volunteer Firefighters serve the community by responding to a wide variety of situations, ranging from emergencies that immediately threaten life or property to large-scale community emergencies. Volunteer Firefighters may perform first response or support duties including but not limited to: activities at emergency incidents large or small; emergency pre-hospital medical aid, and hazardous material incident support activities.

The Burlington Fire Department consists of both professional and volunteer firefighters. New recruits will be assigned to Fire Headquarters, Station No. 1 or Fire Station No. 5, based on where the applicant lives. The Kilbride station covers the rural areas of Burlington, mostly north of No. 2 Sideroad.

The Burlington Fire Department (BFD) Volunteer Firefighter Division is comprised of two volunteer companies:

• Station 1 - Urban Volunteer (1255 Fairview St.)
• Station 5 - Rural Volunteer (2241 Kilbride St.)

Job Overview:

Being 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 and more importantly maintain and improve. Volunteer Firefighters are on call 365 days a year (including holidays), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Skills and Qualifications:

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 Standards for Professional Qualifications for Firefighter level one outlines the skill requisites that the Volunteer Firefighter will achieve during recruit training. All VolunteerFirefighters will be certified in compliance with NFPA 1001.

The Canadian Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder Standard outlines the skill requisites that the Volunteer Firefighter will achieve during recruit training for medical response. All Firefighters will be certified in compliance with the Red Cross EMR program and local medical directives.

In order to qualify for selection as a Volunteer Firefighter the following requirements must be met:

• A volunteer firefighter must be 18 years of age or older
• Legally entitled to work in Canada
• Pass a health and medical evaluation, and fitness assessment
• A volunteer firefighter must have a permanent residence within six minutes travel time to the district boundaries of Station 5 (2241 Kilbride Street). The boundaries are: #2 Side Road, Milborough Town Line, Derry Road and Bell School Line or reside within 20 minutes to Station 1 (1255 Fairview Street)
• Ability to respond to a variety of calls requiring flexible availability during all times of the day including daytime, evenings, overnight and weekends
• Fire-ground training attendance (every Wednesday evening and mandatory training as required) must be achieved and maintained at a minimum of 70% of the training sessions and/or completion of 100% of the mandatory training within a calendar year

Additional preferred qualifications are:

• DZ License
• Previous Fire Fighting Experience
• Formal First Aid Training

Job Opportunities:

All job opportunities are posted and advertised with the City of Burlington human resource department: www.burlington.ca/careers

The fire mechanic is responsible for the safety of firefighters and citizens by ensuring that all fire department equipment is fully operational and ready to be utilized by suppression staff in an emergency. In order for a fire mechanic to be considered competent to carry out their duties, the fire mechanic has to understand the operation of all equipment used in the fire service.

Job Overview

A City of Burlington fire mechanic is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of all fire department vehicles and equipment. The fire mechanic will diagnose and repair, in a regular maintenance program or in emergency conditions, all response apparatus, including pumpers, aerials tankers and support vehicles. The fire mechanic is also responsible for the inspection and maintenance of all support equipment, which includes but is not limited to rotary saws, chain saws, extrication equipment and appliances used to support suppression activities. The fire mechanic will document all work and inspections in the corporate maintenance software as well as issue parts inventory to work orders.
 

Skills and Qualifications:

The Ontario College Of Trades ensures that individuals performing the skills of compulsory trades have the training and certification required to legally practice the 310T and 310S trades 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:

• Hold a valid 310T Certificate
• Hold a valid 310S Certificate
• Hold a valid class D license with a Z endorsement
• Have a secondary school diploma
• Have a practical and theoretical knowledge of all major components found on response apparatus, including fire pumps and aerial

Job Opportunities:

All job opportunities are posted and advertised with the City of Burlington human resource department: www.burlington.ca/careers

The fire prevention inspector is responsible for promoting fire safety and prevention in the community through fire prevention inspections and fire code enforcement. They also heighten public awareness through the delivery of educational presentations to various public and business groups.

Job Overview

A fire prevention inspector will conduct comprehensive fire prevention inspections and surveys of all classes of buildings/occupancies to ensure compliance with the Ontario Fire Code and other relevant standards, regulations and by-laws. The fire prevention inspector will be responsible for preparing reports, reviewing fire safety plans, initiating prosecutions and giving evidence in court. Strong interpersonal skills are necessary to establish effective working relationships and provide quality customer service in this important mandate.

Skills and Qualifications

A background in conducting inspections, the ability to interpret building construction design drawings, completed fire prevention courses as part of the Provincial Fire Prevention Certification process and the delivery of educational programs are valuable assets.

To become a fire prevention inspector with the City of Burlington fire department, you must have the following:

• A degree/diploma for a university or college in fire prevention/protection technology or a related discipline, or successfully completed equivalent related courses
• A demonstrated sound knowledge of the Ontario Fire and Building Codes and other fire protection standards, codes and regulations
• An understanding of the technical aspects of sprinkler, standpipe, fire alarm and voice communication systems, hazardous materials and processes, and other factors related to fire protection
• A valid class G licence

Job Opportunities

All job opportunities are posted and advertised with the City of Burlington human resource department: www.burlington.ca/careers

The Public Education Officer (PEO) is responsible for promoting fire safety and prevention to a wide variety of residents. They heighten public awareness through the design and delivery of educational presentations to various public and business groups and develop new programs on an ongoing basis to meet the changing needs of the Burlington community.

Job Overview

A PEO will prepare and deliver presentation, monitoring and reviewing feedback from those presentations, work with educators from other fields and maintain accurate records and statistics related to the education programs delivered. The PEO will support to fire crews in the delivery of annual programs as well as provide fire and life safety training and support to members of business, community groups, health/long-term care facilities and persons of all ages from pre-school children to senior citizens.

Skills and Qualifications

A background in communications, public relations and/or education program development is preferred.

Must have the ability to interpret statistical data and identify trends to strategically craft, deliver and measure fire prevention and life safety campaigns. Completed fire prevention courses as part of the Provincial Fire Prevention Certification process and the delivery of educational programs are valuable assets.

To become a PEO with the City of Burlington fire department, you must have the following:

• A degree/diploma for a university or college in communications or a fire-prevention related discipline, combined with experience in the development and delivery of educational programs is essential.
• Working knowledge of the Ontario Fire and Building Codes and other fire protection standards, codes and regulations
• A background in developing and delivering varied educational programs to a wide range of audiences or experience in adult education.
• A valid class G licence

Job Opportunities

All job opportunities are posted and advertised with the City of Burlington human resource department: www.burlington.ca/careers

Public safety telecommunicators (dispatchers) are the first of the first responders.  A City of Burlington fire protection service public safety telecommunicator (dispatcher) is typically the initial point of contact in obtaining fire service requests in order to facilitate an emergency or non-emergency call for assistance.

Job Overview

The telecommunicator operates a variety of communications equipment, including radio consoles, telephones and a computer aided dispatch and records management system. The public safety telecommunicator prioritizes, initiates and coordinates the response of fire protection resources, manages the flow of incident-related information to and from field units and/or community resources. They are responsible for monitoring the status of field units, assigning additional resources as requested and/or required, and emphasizing the safety of the public and response units.

Skills and Qualifications

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1061 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunications Personnel outlines the minimum skill requisites and qualifications for becoming a public safety telecommunicator.

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) decided that Ontario would adopt the National Fire Protection Association Professional Qualifications Standards.

To become a public safety telecommunicator with the City of Burlington fire department, you must have the following:

• Certificate in public safety emergency telecommunications (There are several colleges that provide a certificate program to become a public safety telecommunicator.)  
• Secondary school diploma or equivalent
• Grade 12 English or proven proficiency in the English language
• Valid standard first aid certificate

Job Opportunities

All job opportunities are posted and advertised with the City of Burlington human resource department: www.burlington.ca/careers

The Burlington Fire department responds to a variety of emergencies and calls for assistance within its boundaries and provides mutual aid to our neighbours. The function of the training division is to prepare crews for any one of the challenges they may encounter while in response or assistance roles.

Job Overview

The training officer is responsible for:

• Developing training programs compliant with all industry standards
• Organizing and coordinating the delivery of training
• Managing the training environment
• Implementing and delivering training programs
• Evaluating training programs
• Assessing performance of learners
• Incorporating technology into the training environment
• Researching and evaluating Fire department policies, operating guidelines, techniques and equipment
• Organizing and/or conducting career development activities for fire department personnel
• Performing administrative duties
• Performing public relations
• Demonstrating commitment to personal and professional development.

Skills and Qualifications

• Postsecondary education
• Technical experience in rope rescue, ice/water rescue and/or hazardous materials
• Training Officer Diploma
• NFPA Instructor II/III
• Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder Instructor
• Technical experience in teaching NFPA 1006 rescue subjects (rope rescue, ice-water rescue and/or hazardous materials rescue)

Job Opportunities

All job opportunities are posted and advertised with the City of Burlington human resource department: www.burlington.ca/careers