Firefighter Recruitment

The Howick Township Fire Department is currently seeking five (5) Paid On-Call (Volunteer) Firefighters to join our team.

Please see below for a job description and fillable application form. For any questions, please contact Manager of Development and Protective Services / Fire Chief Josh Kestner at 519-335-3202 or howickfire@howick.ca. Alternatively, you can stop in at the Howick Fire Station, 2005 Nelson St N in Gorrie during normal business hours, or any Tuesday or Thursday after 7:00pm.

Job Requirements

Prior to applying, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Provide proof of valid Ontario driver’s license (minimum G2 class)
• Provide proof of residence within a reasonable distance of the Howick Fire Station
• Have a reliable means of transportation for responding to the Fire Station
• Be proficient in the English language, both verbally, and in writing.

Once selected for a position, recruits must provide within thirty (30) days (costs to be reimbursed):

• Medical Examination Report, completed and signed by the applicant’s Doctor, and the Consent Waiver and Release Form must be provided, prior to participating in any physical activities
• A current Driver's Abstract from the Ministry of Transportation
• Proof of clean Criminal Record (with occupational relevance). (No convictions for which a pardon has not been granted)
• A certificate of vulnerable sector screening and a check of the Pardoned Sexual Offender Database completed by the Ontario Provincial Police

Within the first two (2) years, recruits must obtain the following (all training is paid at current rates, and expenses covered by the Fire Department upon successful completion):

• NFPA 1001 Firefighter 1 & 2, and NFPA 1072 Hazmat Operations Certification (approximately 200 hours of in-class/training and online training to meet the Provincial standard, completed as part of a Huron County Recruit Training Program)
• Ontario DZ License and Emergency Vehicle Operator training (approximately 24 hours of in-class and practical training completed in-house)
• Standard First Aid with CPR and AED (approximately 8 hours of in-class training completed in-house or at a local training facility)

 

Regular Job Requirements

• Firefighters are assigned to Platoons, which rotate through an on-call schedule every three (3) weeks. The on-call period begins at 6:00pm on the Friday, and ends at 6:00pm on the Sunday, to ensure adequate weekend coverage.
• Platoons complete truck and equipment checks on the Tuesday following their on-call weekend starting at 7:00pm. This takes approximately two (2) hours to complete.
• Platoons participate in training on the Thursday following their on-call weekend, beginning at 7:00pm. Training can be two (2) to three (3) hours in duration depending on the topic.
• Firefighters are scheduled on the fourth Tuesday of every month, beginning at 7:00pm, for SCBA checks, station duties, and a staff / Firefighters Association meeting.
• Firefighters participate in a whole-department training session on the fourth Thursday of every month, beginning at 7:00pm with a duration of approximately three (3) hours.
• Other activities may be mandatory, including public education events, community events, additional training, etc.

This equates to at least four (4) weekday evenings of scheduled activity per month, per Firefighter.

Benefits

Supplied Equipment:

• Bunker gear including pants, jacket, helmet, gloves, hood, boots, and accessories is provided at no cost, and is kept in-date and maintained to NFPA standards
• Pager and phone app
• Station uniform upon hiring, and dress uniform upon success certification as a Firefighter

Renumeration:

• Quarterly remuneration for all fire calls, training, equipment checks, meetings, and other activities as approved by the Fire Chief

Career Advancement:

• Opportunities for additional training recognized throughout North America, through the Ontario Fire College or other accredited institutions
• Potential for advancement to Officer roles