Volunteer Firefighter Job Posting

Responds to suppression and emergency call-outs in accordance with departmental policy and standards and following occupational health and safety requirements.

Duties at an incident may include, but are not limited, to any/all of the following:

• Wearing of self-contained breathing apparatus in a dangerous atmosphere
• Wearing specialized firefighter personal protective equipment and clothing
• Working in circumstances of extreme weather and temperature conditions
• Potential exposure to extremely dangerous physical hazards at incident scenes
• Strenuous physical activity and potential for long hours without rest
• Lift, carry, and set-up of equipment and materials on scene
• Operation of pressure pumps and hoses
• Crawling, climbing, carry/climb ladders
• Operating various fire rescue equipment
• Performing salvage and ventilation work at incidents
• Entering burning or contaminated buildings, structures and areas to perform rescues or to fight fires,
• Provides first response medical assistance to fellow firefighters as needed
• Participate in mandatory training to ensure currency within established policy and procedures,
• Operate in a team environment under the direction of supervisory staff,
• Work in accordance with departmental and city’s policies, procedures, guidelines, and occupational health and safety requirements,
• Carry out supportive roles to career firefighters at incidents as directed,
• Perform fire station duties, washing trucks and equipment, ensuring that equipment is in a state of readiness for response, cleaning and maintaining gear
• Participate in promotional and community events, as assigned, acting as ambassadors for the Welland Fire and Emergency Services,
• Always act within established policies, operational guidelines, and departmental rules and regulations whether on or off duty
• Other duties as might be assigned.

Volunteer Firefighters are not responsible for supervision of other personnel unless they are assigned as a senior Firefighter at an incident or event due to need and in accordance with skills and ability, in which case they may be the lead of a small team of Firefighters. Volunteer Firefighters may act as a mentor to less experienced Firefighters both on and off of an incident ground.

• Minimum of a Grade Twelve (12) Diploma or equivalent,
• Must be and maintain residency in the City of Welland boundaries,
• Must possess and maintain reliable and appropriate transportation to transport self and issued equipment to training and to the scene of incidents or the fire station as directed,
• Possess and maintain the physical strength and agility necessary to perform arduous work, and to competently operate firefighting/rescue equipment, and safety equipment, under all types of adverse conditions, for prolonged periods in this physically demanding environment,
• As a condition of employment must challenge and pass the department’s physical and mental abilities test comprised of a stair climb, standard fire ground exercises and acrophobia and claustrophobia testing,
• Must have a good attitude and the ability to support and project values compatible with the organization,
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with effective conflict resolution skills,
• Ability and willingness to attend required training, and to perform learned tasks and techniques used in extinguishing fire and in fire related rescue operations,
• First Aid/CPR certification would be an asset,
• Previous related experience and/or training is an asset but not required,
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality at all times,
• Ability to exercise discretion and tact and to react calmly and quickly in emergency situations,
• Effective oral communication and strong interpersonal skills to deal with members of the public, and staff,
• Good written communication skills,
• Possess and maintain a minimum valid Class “G” driver’s license in good standing for the Province of Ontario,
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Class “D” license with a “Z” endorsement within two years from date of employment.

• City of Welland fire station as assigned.
• Any location within the city of Welland in response to an incident call-out.
• Potentially at any location outside of the City of Welland in response to a request for mutual-aid assistance from a neighbouring fire service.

• As per the agreed compensation rate established in the Collective Agreement negotiated between the City and the Firefighters’ Association.
• Volunteer Firefighters must meet minimum attendance thresholds outlined in the Collective Agreement
• Volunteer Firefighters must achieve and maintain the knowledge, skill and abilities as established from time to time for Volunteer Firefighters.

The screening process for the selection of Volunteer Firefighters is detailed to ensure that candidates become aware of the degree of skill, commitment, and personal character required in becoming a successful Volunteer Firefighter.

The screening and selection process will consist of the following steps:

• Completed application submitted by 16:00 on Friday, February 21, 2025.
• Written aptitude test Thursday, February 27, 2025, evening.
• In-person Interview Thursday, March 6, 2025, evening.
• Department’s physical and mental abilities test comprised of a stair climb, standard fire ground exercises and acrophobia and claustrophobia testing March 22 and 23, 2025 – attached medical clearance form due by Thursday, March 6, 2025.
  • (Medical clearance form)
• Employment reference check
• Conditional offer of employment (conditions include; satisfactory medical examination, driver’s abstract and Police Vulnerable Sector Check)
• Recruit training (see Training Dates section below)
• Completion of a one-year probationary period

Applicants will be notified if they are eligible to proceed throughout each stage of the selection process.

Successful applicants will be required to become a member of the United Steelworkers, Local 14241-08.

Volunteer Firefighter positions are paid an hourly rate as per the Collective Agreement and pay is deposited quarterly.

Volunteer Firefighters must continuously reside within the City of Welland, be available to attend training and respond to emergencies, and be members in good standing.

Volunteer Firefighters must maintain an overall average of 60% of all scheduled training practices and 30% of all emergency responses as a condition of employment. Higher attendance for training practices is expected during the one-year probationary term, to ensure safety and skills training is completed efficiently.

Firefighting is an inherently dangerous occupation, to ensure the protection of each firefighter they are responsible to maintain themselves in manner that ensures that their face is free of facial hair, jewelry, or otherwise that may prohibit them from safely using a respirator.

Volunteer Firefighters must complete a skills and knowledge evaluation as a condition of satisfying their probationary requirements. Testing is based upon the knowledge and skills that the candidate acquires throughout the probationary term and all testing materials, instruction, coaching and feedback are provided to the candidate throughout the year.

Successful applicants are required to attend mandatory recruit training dates as identified below. No alternate dates are available, attendance on each date is required.

Recruit training will occur throughout the probationary year. The recruit training is split into 2 parts:

Part A: SafeStart Recruit Program (6 weeks)

The SafeStart Program is designed to prepare new recruits for responding to emergencies. During the probationary period, Firefighters will perform duties at scenes in alignment with the degree to which they are trained.

During the SafeStart Program, recruits will be required to attend and participate in training every Tuesday or Thursday evening (day of week to be confirmed prior to start of program), as well as 1-2 weekend days (Saturday or Sunday).

Part B: In-service Recruit Training

Once the new recruit has completed the SafeStart Program, they will be approved to begin responding to emergencies and begin attending regular Wednesday training with the other Volunteer Firefighters.

The remaining recruit training will occur over the course of the probationary year. These training sessions will happen once per month, on either a weekday evening or one day on a weekend,