Volunteer Firefighter Information

Burlington Fire Department (BFD) Volunteer Firefighters are 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 typically are not first responders.
• Station 5 Volunteers operate as first responders.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter with the Burlington Fire Department;

• Station 1 Volunteers must live in the City of Burlington.
• Station 5 Volunteers must live in the City of Burlington and reside within a 6 minute travel time to Station 5.

Required qualifications are;

• Completion of Grade 12
• At least 18 years old
• Legally entitled to work in Canada

Preferred qualifications are;

• 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;

• Completion and submission of an official BFD Volunteer Firefighter application.  Applications are available during a defined time period only when recruitment is underway. All recruitment will be advertised in local newspapers and on the City of Burlington website, under the Current Job Competitions section.
• Successfully complete the required Candidate Physical Assessment Test (CPAT) (Brock University). Acrophobia (the fear of hights) and Claustrophobia (the fear of confined space) evaluations must also be successfully completed. If the CPAT is successfully completed, this cost is reimbursed by the BFD. 
• If all requirements are completed successfully you will be included in the Volunteer Training Program.

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 1900 to 2100 hrs.
• Complete 100% of the required training subjects annually.
• Attend at least 30% of the incidents that your station is called to on an annual basis.
• Maintain an operational understanding the Standard Operating Guidelines and Department Policies.

If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Firefighter please contact the according Volunteer Captain;

• Station 1, please contact Captain Kevin Rutty at ruttyk@burlington.ca
• Station 5, please contact Captain Matt Segsworth at segsworthm@burlington.ca