Career Guide

Part-time Firefighter


SATISFACTION THAT COMES FROM HELPING OTHERS


PRIDE of PROFESSIONALISM

These are only two of the reasons that make the PART-TIME FIREFIGHTER position so much more than just another job.

As a part-time firefighter with the Halton Hills Fire Department you will face new and challenging situations unlike any other job. You will fight fire, perform rescues, administer first aid, deal with hazardous materials, protect property and possibly be instrumental in saving lives.

If you are physically fit, enjoy learning, work well with others and enjoy helping others, then you are a potential candidate for a part-time firefighter position with the Halton Hills Fire Department.

Read this guide carefully and if you feel you have what it takes to become a part-time firefighter, COMPLETE and RETURN the application.

1. live within 5 km (3 miles) of the station to which you would be assigned; because time is critical in responding to emergency incidents, it is not considered feasible to have firefighters living beyond this distance; those living less than 3 km from the station will be given preferential consideration;

2. • hold a valid Ontario Driver's License,
   • have a good driving record, and
   • be prepared to produce a statment of your driving record;
   
   

3. have a Grade 12 Diploma or the education equivalent, the Halton Hills Fire Department Policy for recognized equivalent education is outlined below;

4. understand and be able to communicate clearly in English both oral and written;

5. be in good health and be capable of handling intense sustained physical effort.

Applicants offered a position with the Halton Hills Fire Department requiring a minimum Grade 12 or Equivalent education must verify their education level prior to commencing any duties and/or training. It is preferred, however, that documentation be submitted with your application.

Acceptable education verification documents include:

1. Grade 12 - the applicant is required to produce a diploma or transcript from an Ontario Secondary School for the Grade 12 Diploma.

2. Equivalent Education -

   1. the applicant is required to produce a transcript confirming the number of secondary school credits that he/she has earned to date.

   2. additional education credits will be awarded on receipt of verification of adult education courses completed on the following basis:

      1. 1 credit for every community college/secondary school course or combination of courses totaling 110 hours of study;

      2. ½ credit for every Ontario Fire College course or combination of courses totalling 40 hours of study;

      3. ½ credit for every Community College fire science/technology course or combination of courses totalling 40 hours of study;

      4. 2 credits for every period completed in a recognized apprenticeship program leading to an Ontario Trades Certificate.

   3. maturity credits will be awarded on the basis of 2 credits for each full year beyond the applicant's 19^th birthday to a maximum of 12 maturity credits.

   4. applicants with out-of-province or out-of-country education qualifications will be assessed using the guidance and criteria of the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Any applicant with a total of 30 or more credits from any combination of the recognized sources will be considered to have the equivalent of Grade 12.

Only applicants residing within 5 km (3 miles)of the fire staion will be considered (outer rings on above map). Those who reside within the 3 km (2 miles) distance will be given preferential consideration.

PART-TIME FIREFIGHTER
SELECTION PROCESS

Step 1   When you apply to become a part-time firefighter, your application is reviewed by the Deputy Fire Chief and the District Chief of the area station to which you will be assigned. If you are considered to have the basic qualifications specified above, you will be notified prior to the next sheduled testing date.

Step 2   Qualified applicants will be invited to attend an Orientation Program designed to provide you with a detailed description of the tests used by the Department and answer any questions you may have about any aspect of the selection process.

Step 3   Qualified applicants will be required to participate in the aptitude tests designed to assess your aptitude to be a firefighter. The tests include a written aptitude test and a physical aptitude test.
  The written aptitude test measures your ability to understand written and/or verbal information, your technical and mechanical aptitude, and your reading, reasoning and mathematical skills.
  The physical aptitude tests assess your ability to perform the physically demanding tasks firefighters are required to do.

Step 4   Having successfully completed the two aptitude tests, the applicant will be required to participate in the Canadian Standard Test of Fitness.

Step 5   Having successfully completed the fitness test, the applicant will be required to attend an interview with a selection panel of Fire Suppression Division Officers.

Step 6   Those considered to be suitable candidates by the selection panel will be required to successfully complete a health and medical fitness evaluation administered by a physician appointed by the Fire Department.

Step 7   Those candidates who are considered medically fit by the physician will be required to sign an authorization allowing the Fire Department to confirm the candidate has no driving or criminal convictions that would negatively affect their eligibility as a firefighter. At this time verification documents of education qualification must also be provided if not done previously.

Step 8   Those candidates who are successful in the first seven steps will be offered positions as probationary firefighters and embark on a one (1) year training program. In cases where there are no openings immediately available, the candidate will be placed on a wait-list for future openings. The candidates will be assessed throughout their training program and those considered suitable will be appointed to the ranks of the part-time firefighters at the end of their probationary period.

Assessing the numerous applicants is a very time consuming and costly undertaking for the Department. Therefore, other commitments and responsibilities of individual applicants are not considered in scheduling tests. If you are not available at the date and time of the test you may re-apply to participate in the process next year.

Firefighters are called upon to provide emergency medical treatment to people involved in fires, accidents and a host of other conditions. For the protection of our staff, the Department has established an injury prevention Policy which requires staff to be vaccinated against specific diseases. The diseases against which staff are vaccinated are established by the Department physician and presently include such diseases as Hepatitis B and Tetanus.

Probationary firefighters are required to participate in the vaccination program as specified by the Department Policy prior to the completion of their probationary period.

Firefighters contracting a communicable disease as a result of exposure during the performance of their duties are entitled to Compensation as you would for any other job related injury. It is, however, potentially very difficult to establish that the exposure was job related. To reduce this problem as much as possible the Department requires that initial base line test be done to establish exposure to the disease prior to the firefighter being hired.

Probationary firefighters are required to participate in the tests as specified by the Department Policy prior to the completion of their probationary period.

Testing positive for a particular disease would not, in most cases, preclude the probationary firefighter from being hired. It may, however, have significant ramifications on the firefighter's status to claim Compensation for the job related injury. The ramifications will be detailed for the individual by the Department physician performing the tests.

NOTE: The results of all tests conducted are considered confidential information between the physician and the firefighter and handled accordingly by the Department appointed physician.

Specific components of the firefighter training program are required to be completed by the probationary firefighter prior to the completion of their probationary period. Failure to complete the required training will result in the extension of the probationary period or may result in dismissal from the Department. The circumstances or justification for training not being completed will be considered.

The greatest reward received by part-time firefighters is the satisfaction and sense of personal fulfilment that comes with knowing you perform a service to the community that few others could or would do.

Challenging yourself to face serious problems, often at the risk of your own health and safety, while working with others as a team to save life and property is an experience you will long remember. Being a firefighter is not, however, for everyone. It is often a very dirty, very demanding job but for those who have what it takes it is a job like no other.

The majority of firfighters in Halton Hills are part-time (paid-on-call) employees of the Town. Each firefighter who responds to an alarm receives remuneration from the Town at the rate established for the year. (The 1992 rate for a probationary firefighter is approximately $15.00 per alarm)

Firefighters also receive remuneration for attending training sessions and courses on a similar basis. The remuneration varies with respect to the length of time required for the course.

The part-time firefighters, as municipal employees, are provided with Worker's Compensation Insurance. The benefit paid to an injured firefighter in the event of lost time from work is the maximum amount payable as established by the Worker's Compensation Board.

Part-time firefighters receive a group life insurance benefit paid by the Town. The benefit paid is the maximum established by the Ontario Fire Fighters Association. (The 1992 benefit is $75,000)

Part-time firefighters are provided with an insurance policy providing a number of health and disability benefits. The details of the insurance are provided to firefighters at the beginning of their probationary period.

Part-time firefighters are supplied with personal protective clothing in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Department Policy.

At the end of the probationary period, a full dress uniform is supplied in accordance with Department Policy.