Firefighter Recruitment

Being a volunteer firefighter requires a large amount of time for 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, and 7 days a week.

The National Fire Protection Association (FFPA) 1001 Standards for Professional Qualifications for Firefighter level one outlines the skills that a volunteer firefighter will achieve during recruit training.

The Canadian Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder Standard outlines the skills that a volunteer firefighter will achieve during recruit training for medical response.

In order to be a volunteer firefighter, the following must be met:

• A volunteer firefighter must be 18 years of age or older
• Minimum Grade Twelve (12) Diploma or equivalent
• Legally able to work in Canada
• Valid Class “D” driver's license from the Province of Ontario, including a “Z” endorsement at time of hiring date
• Pass a health and medical check, and fitness assessment
• A volunteer firefighter must have a permanent home within 5.6 kilometers of the station that they are making application to, either Station 1 (985 Lesperance, Tecumseh) or Station 2 (5520 Walker Road, Oldcastle)
• Able to respond to a variety of calls requiring availability during all times of the day including daytime, evenings, overnight and weekends
• Must be able to attend required training on Tuesday nights; and to complete a mandatory training program

Additional preferred qualifications are:

• Previous related experience and/or training
• First Aid/CPR and Defibrillator certification training

The volunteer firefighter recruitment process consists of three stages: a written examination, physical testing and an interview.  Applicants must pass each stage of the process to be invited to the subsequent stage.

Written Examination - The written examination consists of a series of questions (true/false, multiple choice and short answer) that tests your general knowledge related to the position, your ability to follow directions and your ability to understand and interpret written and / or oral information.

Physical Testing - The physical testing consists of 6 consecutive events, each of which must be successfully completed to pass the overall physical evaluation.  Firefighting is a physically demanding job at times and these events test your abilities in key aspects of the position.

The events, in order, are:

• 20-metre Shuttle Run (Beep Test)
• Smokehouse Search
• Aerial Apparatus Climb
• Ladder Raise
• Training Tower Climb / Hose Hoist
• Keiser Machine

Interview

Those applicants that successfully complete both the written examination and physical testing may be invited to an interview as the final stage of the process.

Following the interviews, those applicants selected will be placed on a numbered reserve list for their respective station. If you are selected to be placed on a reserve list, you will be contacted.

When a position becomes available, the next person on the reserve list for that station will be contacted. 

All job opportunities with the Town of Tecumseh are posted and advertised here - Employment Opportunities