Volunteer Firefighter Requirements

The Burlington Fire Department (BFD) Volunteer Firefighting Division is comprised of 2 volunteer divisions. A Division of volunteer firefighters operate from Station 1, located at 1255 Fairview Street; and from Station 5, located at 2241 Kilbride Street, in Burlington.

• Station 1 Volunteers operate as a support group and are not typically first responders.
• Station 5 Volunteers operate as first responders.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter with the BFD you must determine both your eligibility for becoming a volunteer firefighter and your ability to maintain an active status with regards to availability and residency requirements.  

Volunteer Firefighter Requirements:

1. A volunteer firefighter must have a permanent residence within 6 minutes travel time to Station 5 (2241 Kilbride Street, Burlington) or within 20 minutes travel time to Station 1 (1255 Fairview Street, Burlington). 
2. If an applicant is employed; their work location may also be within a travel time of 6 minutes to Station 5 (2241 Kilbride Street, Burlington) or within 20 minutes to Station 1 (1255 Fairvew Street, Burlington).  An individual must also have written permission from their employer to respond to emergencies within the primary response district of the according volunteer company they would be assigned to (Station 1, 2155 Fairview Street, Burlington or Station 5, 2241 Kilbride Street, Burlington).
3. Emergency response attendance must be achieved and maintained at a minimum of 30% of the total emergency responses dispatched to the station they are assigned within a calendar year.
4. Training attendance (every Wed. 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.
5. A volunteer firefighter must be at least 18 years old.
6. Legally entitled to work in Canada

• Shift Worker
• DZ License
• Previous Fire Fighting Experience
• Pre Fire Service Course(s)

Being a volunteer firefighter requires a significant commitment of your time to both train and respond 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 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (including holidays).

In order to be considered for a position with the BFD Volunteer Firefighter Division, the following process must be successfully completed by an applicant;

1. Completion, submission and acceptance of an official BFD Volunteer Firefighter application, which is only during a recruitment process.   
2. All minimum requirements have been met by an applicant.
3. An interview has been conducted and the candidate has been accepted to continue with the application process, steps 4, 5 & 6. 
4. All applicants that have successfully completed steps 1, 2 & 3 are also required to undergo medical evaluation and complete a Candidate Physical Assessment Test (CPAT).
5. All candidates that successfully complete the medical evaluation and the CPAT will also be required to complete an evaluation for both Acrophobia (the fear of heights) and Claustrophobia (the fear of confined spaces).
6. If the medical evaluation, CPAT, Acrophobia and Claustrophobia evaluations/test are successfully completed by a candidate and all requirements are completed successfully the candidate will be included in the Volunteer Training Program.

Please note that all costs for the tests/evaluations indicated above are the responsibility of the applicant.  If an applicant is successful and accepted into the Volunteer Training Program, these costs will be reimbursed.

The Volunteer Training Program consists of Fire Ground, Emergency Patient Care theory and practical training. This training program will take place every Saturday (08:30 to 16:30 hrs) and every Wednesday (18:00 to 21:30 hrs) for 12 consecutive weeks. Each week you will write a test on the previous week’s subjects. You must achieve a minimum score of 80% to pass the program. A final practical evaluation is also conducted prior to completion and passing of the training program.

Once the training program has been successfully completed a Station will be assigned where a 3 month probationary period will start.  In order to successfully complete the probationary period the following must be achieved and maintained; 

• Attend at least 70 % of the training sessions. These take place every Wednesday night from 19:00 to 21:00 hrs.
• Complete 100% of the required training.
• Attend at least 30% of the incidents that your volunteer company/station is called to.
• Maintain an operational understanding the Standard Operating Guidelines and Department Policies.

The next Volunteer Firefighter recruitment is not known at this time; however, it will be advertised in local newspapers and on the City of Burlington website, Current Job Opportunities section.

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