Firefighter Recruitment

2024 Recruitment process is now closed. 

Click here to view the online application.

Thank you to all of those who have applied.  Only successful candidates will be notified if they are moving on to next steps.  

Any questions, please email
 

Volunteer (Paid on Call) Firefighter Recruitment Information

 

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Volunteer (Paid on Call) Firefighter with the Township of King Fire & Emergency Services.

The following will provide you with information on the recruitment and selection process, explain the recruit training program, and provide an overview of expectations upon successful completion of the twelve (12) month probationary period.

ABOUT US

The Township of King Fire & Emergency Services is a composite department with three firehouses serving an area of 333 km2 and approximately 28,000 residents.

Firehouse 34 - 2045 King Road, King City

Firehouse 36 - 91 Proctor Road, Schomberg

Firehouse 38 - 5926 King Road, Nobleton

Full time staff consists of the Fire Chief, two Deputy Fire Chief's, Emergency Services Executive Assistant, 2 Fire Prevention Officers and a Community Resilience Officer.

We maintain staffing of approximately 150 volunteer firefighters (50/Firehouse)

 


 Vision Statement

King Fire and Emergency Services’ pursuit of excellence will not end.

We will become the most highly trained, adapted, and prepared fire service in Ontario, Canada, and North America.

 Mission Statement

King Fire & Emergency Services dedicate our being to the residents, visitors, and businesses of the Township of King.

We will promote, educate, and demonstrate fire and emergency safety to our customers with the goal of proactively reducing the response need for our service.

 Values

Above all, King Fire & Emergency Services staff are proud and honoured to serve; we hold duty, trust, and honour as our guiding principles.

DUTY:  Devoted to our Customers

TRUST:  Confident and Firm Belief

HONOUR:  Integrity and Respect

King Fire & Emergency Services’ staff are critical to our success.  Everything we do, we do so as a team and our team is driven by our values.

King Fire & Emergency Services’ customers are critical to our team’s success.  We are customer focused; we teach, we plan, we prepare and we respond wanting to exceed our customer’s expectations.

We are empathetic and sensitive to the needs of each and every customer, realizing that those involved in an emergency situation did not want to be in that position.

Quality customer service is our signature and it exemplifies our Mission.

In the event a customer requires the services from King Fire & Emergency Services, we will respond to that need, mitigate and safely return with 100% customer satisfaction.

Our daily activities and forward thinking will take us from “THAT” fire service to “THE” fire service.

 

BEING A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER

Being a Volunteer (Paid on Call) Firefighter is very rewarding and can facilitate the development of new skills and a diverse range of knowledge. Firefighters always work as a team to accomplish objectives.

This can be both rewarding and challenging all at the same time as requests for emergency response take place at any given time - 24/7/365. The work you are expected to perform is sometimes very strenuous both physically and mentally. You will be expected to perform in all types of weather conditions at any time of the day or night.

If selected through the recruitment process to become a Recruit Firefighter, you will complete our in-house recruit training program. The program consists of training in Emergency Medical First Responder, NFPA 1072 Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations and NFPA Firefighter Level 1 and Level 2 as well as live fire scenarios. The entire program will take approximately six months to complete.

Experienced municipal firefighters may be considered for a condensed training program and probationary period.

Upon successful completion of the recruit training program, you will respond to a variety of emergency and non-emergency responses including structure fires, vehicle fires, wildland fires, motor vehicle collisions, medical emergencies, public hazard incidents and technical rescues.

The training and response expectations for Volunteer (Paid on Call) Firefighters can be challenging. This is due to higher call volumes and escalating requirements to meet the training standards of the industry’s regulatory bodies.

Becoming a fully trained certified Firefighter, qualified and capable of performing all expected fire ground duties requires a journey lasting four (4) years and represents considerable cost to the Township of King. A firefighter should be committed to a program of lifelong learning.

The following outlines the training and certification process involved in becoming a fully qualified and certified Firefighter and the associated timeline.
 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

  • 18 years of age or older and legally entitled to work in Canada.
  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (Grade 12) or academic equivalent.
  • Be criminal record free unless a pardon has been granted under the Criminal Records Act (Canada) with Vulnerable Sector Screening and has not been revoked.
  • Be available to respond in a timely fashion, including weekends and holidays.
  • Possess a valid class G license with satisfactory driver’s abstract dated no earlier than three months prior to the application date.
  • Be able to perform the duties of a firefighter physically and mentally, having regard for their own safety and the safety of members of the public.
  • Be able to understand and communicate clearly in English, both oral and written.
  • Satisfactory medical screening by a licenced physician using the King Fire & Emergency Services medical package. (Individuals selected for interview)
  • Have a current immunization record for Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Polio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, and Tetanus
  • Have proof of residence within 6 km of a King Fire & Emergency Services Firehouse.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • NFPA 1072 Hazardous Materials Awareness.
  • NFPA 1072 Hazardous Materials Operations.
  • NFPA 1001 FFI and FFII.
  • Ontario D-Z Driver’s License.
  • Standard First Aid and CPR level HCP (Health Care Providers).
  • Daytime availability/shift workers.
  • Post-secondary education.
  • Specialized skills/trades.
  • Work experience.
  • Previous firefighting or emergency service experience.
  • Fluency in a second language (including sign language).

RECRUITMENT/SELECTION PROCESS

  • Application and required documentation will be reviewed and then selected candidates will be invited to an interview intended to determine their suitability for a position as a volunteer firefighter.
  • A select number of candidates will be scheduled for skills tests and fitness assessments conducted by King Fire & Emergency Services (candidates who are not selected for skills and fitness testing may be considered for further testing as positions become available).
  • Candidates who successfully complete the skills and fitness assessments will be required to provide proof of: Current address, immunization record, driver’s abstract, Police background check with Vulnerable Sector screening and successful medical screening (using King Fire & Emergency Services Medical Assessment Package)
  • Upon verification of the required documents, recruit candidates will be contacted.

ONE YEAR PROBATIONARY PERIOD

As a recruit you must successfully complete the Fire Department’s in-house Recruit Training and become certified in NFPA 1072 Hazardous Materials Awareness, NFPA 1072 Hazardous Materials Operations, NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level 1 and NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level 2 and Emergency First Responder.

Experienced municipal firefighters may be considered for a condensed training program and probationary period.

FOLLOWING THE PROBATIONARY TERM

Each firefighter must meet or exceed the training and certification requirements of each one-year classification period to be eligible for promotion to the next class. Each firefighters’ knowledge, training, participation and certifications will be assessed each year until they obtain the position of First-Class Firefighter.

During this time, additional training and courses in various subjects may be offered.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUALIFICATION

After achieving the position of a First-Class firefighter, firefighters will have an option of pursuing further training/ certification programs in preparation for becoming a company officer.

ATTENDANCE AT TRAINING AND EMERGENCY INCIDENTS

There is an expectation that you will continue to attend a minimum of 80% of maintenance training sessions and respond to a minimum of 30% of emergency and non-emergency incidents.

Also, you will be expected to fulfill the summer stand-by commitment as assigned. If your attendance is continuously below expectations, you may be released from the department.

You will be assigned to a platoon and will attend the crew’s regularly scheduled training as well as vehicle, equipment and station inspection and maintenance.

FIREFIGHTER PAY AND BENEFITS

Firefighters are paid an hourly rate for attendance at training, emergency responses, scheduled public events and other duties as approved. It takes four years to progress through the classification process from recruit to First Class Firefighter. Pay is based on the following classification rates:

  • Probationary Firefighter 60% of First-Class Rate

  • 4th Class Firefighter 70% of First-Class Rate

  • 3rd Class Firefighter 80% of First-Class Rate

  • 2nd Class Firefighter 90% of First-Class Rate

  • 1st Class Firefighter 100%

Members are provided with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage for injuries or lost time during authorized activities.

Life and AD&D insurance is also provided by the Township. As well, all firefighters are covered by VFIS (Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services).  Additional insurance (personal or family coverage) may be purchased by members through VFIS.

All members are provided with:

  • pager & charger

  • full protective equipment

  • station wear

  • dress uniform (following successful completion of the probationary period)

The Township of King Fire & Emergency Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC). The Township of King will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities and/or needs related to the OHRC. Personal information provided is collected under the authority of The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.