Division: Fire Services
Department: Community Safety
Initial Reporting Location: Various
Volunteer firefighters play an important role in keeping the community safe from fire and other hazards. If you are dedicated, have excellent team work skills and good health and physical fitness then consider joining our team! Volunteer firefighting is a great way to learn valuable skills, give back to your community and make extra income.
Recruitment Dates
Greater Sudbury Fire Services accepts volunteer firefighter applications year-round. Any applications received shall be reviewed and kept until such time as a volunteer intake round opens and a training academy is formed. This is done on an as-needed basis and at the direction of the City of Greater Sudbury Fire Chief.
Recruitment Process
Our recruitment process consists of a formal application, interview, physical ability testing, health and medical testing and submission of required documents.
You will be evaluated by Fire Services administration and the City of Greater Sudbury Human Resources department, as mandated by the volunteer firefighter’s union, the Christian Labour Association of Canada.
We then make offers to successful applicants and select a minimum of one recruitment class of up to 25 individuals. Review our Information Guide for details about our recruitment and application process.
Which Stations Need Volunteers?
The Chief of Fire and Paramedic Services determines which volunteer firefighter stations have the greatest need for recruits by looking at the number of volunteers at each station versus how many are required under the Fire Services Volunteer Station Staffing Policy.
Priority is given to the stations that do not meet Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) requirements for minimum numbers of volunteers and need participating members in order to meet minimum staffing levels.
Can Current Volunteers Help Recruit?
Absolutely! During recruitment drives we provide volunteer stations with posters, application packages and information guides, along with suggestions to help recruit volunteers. If you know of potential candidates you can encourage them to apply and request to conduct site visits or door-to-door recruitment campaigns in your community.
Applications
Greater Sudbury Fire Services accepts volunteer firefighter applications year round.
To apply for the volunteer firefighter position, review our Information Guide and apply online.
Physical Testing
As part of the physical testing, each candidate will be required to have their blood pressure and pulse assessed before and after the physical testing. Blood pressure is required to be below 160/100 and pulse is required to be below 110 bpm in order to proceed with the physical testing.
The physical testing will be set up as a circuit style test within the fire training grounds at the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre.
While completing the testing, for all stages of the physical testing, the candidate shall maintain continual forward motion until the task has been completed.
The steps to completion will be in the following order to maintain testing consistency:
Step 1 - Candidates will climb an extension ladder on the east side of the tower to the fourth floor and transition onto the flour floor. Then they will climb an interior staircase to the fifth floor, proceed out the exit door and down the exterior stairwell to ground level while maintaining three points of contact on both the ladder and stairwell.
Step 2 - Candidate will lift to chest height an auto-extrication tool and lower it to the ground and repeating 10 times completing a squat for each repetition.
Step 3 - Candidates will shoulder a hose and carry it up the staircase to the fourth floor and descend the staircase. Three points of contact shall be maintained at all time while climbing and descending the staircase.
Step 4 - Candidates will complete a one-handed carry of a 50 lbs pail for 50 feet, switch hands and carry the pail back.
Step 5 - Candidates will shoulder a 65 mm hose which is attached to a 100 mm hose, drag the hose for 50 metres.
Step 6- Manikin Drag – Candidates will drag an 85 kg (185 lbs) manikin 20 meters.
Step 7 – Claustrophobia Test – Candidates will be read a script prior to entering and laying down in an enclosed, blacked-out culvert. The candidate will remain in the culvert, while wearing a face mask, for three minutes. After exiting the culvert, the candidate will be asked a series of questions related to the script read to them earlier.
Volunteer Firefighters are required to attend and respond to:
- fire calls
- medical calls
- water rescue calls
- hazardous material incidents
- wild fires
- motor vehicle collisions
- weekly or bi-weekly training nights
- incidents that are traumatic and could involve members of your community
- volunteer activities such as Muscular Dystrophy Boot Drives and Christmas Food Drives
Volunteer Firefighters should be:
- comfortable with small or tight spaces
- comfortable with heights
- calm under pressure
- good at following and understanding directions
- willing to wear a pager 24/7
- respond to calls at all hours of the day and night, in all weather conditions
- aware of the physical demands of the job, including wearing approximately 100 lbs of gear at emergency incidents.
For more information, please visit our Volunteer Firefighters webpage: https://www.greatersudbury.ca/live/emergency-services/fire-services/training-and-recruiting/volunteer-firefighters/
