Mental wellness plays a significant role in your experiences with the fire department. As an emergency responder you will be exposed to situations that can be both visually and mentally traumatizing. You will be provided with training tools to help you understand and cope with the symptoms of mental wellness associated with being a first responder. The department also has a peer support team that can assist you including access to a formal employee assistance program.
The department has a strong safety culture where adherence to operating guidelines, use of personal protective equipment and watching out for one another is expected to ensure a safe working environment. Firefighters are required to wear a pager that alerts you to calls when you’re fit (both mentally and physically) and available for duty.
You must have a smart phone with an active data plan for use when paged for emergencies and attending training and hall duties.
Job fit/suitability is one of many critical factors considered in our decision-making processes. Completion and/ or passing all steps in the recruitment process does not ensure a position on the department. If at any point in the process the required competencies are not met, you will not proceed to the next step.
Most importantly, consult with your significant other and family members to discuss the volunteer firefighter commitment you are considering. There is a significant time obligation to get through the first year of training and testing to become a firefighter. Then, twice monthly training, equipment checks, public education activities and emergency response become the normal expectations. Emergencies are not planned and can happen on holidays, in the middle of the night and on special occasions. Do you have the time and just as important, the support of your family to be a volunteer firefighter?
