Community Development Initiatives Funding

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Paid-On-Call RECRUIT FIREFIGHTER INFORMATION
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Topics

• Introduction to the Fire Department
• Recruit Firefighter Qualifications
• Recruitment Process
• Recruit Training Program
• Career Firefighting Opportunities
• Contact Information

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The City of Chilliwack Fire Department will
safeguard our community by providing fire
prevention and life safety programs and by
delivering fire and rescue services. As fire
service professionals, we dedicate ourselves to
protecting lives, property and the environment in
times of emergency or disaster.

• MISSION STATEMENT

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The Chilliwack Fire Department will be effective,
innovative and accountable in its pursuit of
public safety and emergency preparedness as we
respond to the needs of the community and our
organization.

• VISION STATEMENT

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Who Are We?
Hall 3 - Yarrow
Hall 4 - Sardis
Hall 5 Ryder Lake
Hall 6 - Greendale

• CFD celebrated its 100th Anniversary in June 2006
• CFD is a composite Fire Department with career
  and Paid-on-Call (POC) firefighters
• Six fire halls are located throughout the
  community (as shown above)
• Hall 1 opened in 2004. This hall is manned by
  career firefighters and is our Administrative
  Headquarters
• POC firefighters are similar to volunteer
  firefighters but receive compensation when called
  out or attending training
• All halls have a complement of POC firefighters,
  on call, ready to respond to an incident

Hall 2 - Rosedale
Hall 1 - Downtown
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Fire Department Services
Photos courtesy of Chilliwack Progress

• CFD firefighters respond to a variety of
  emergency and non-emergency incidents, such as
• Fire Suppression
• Rescue/MVAs
• Medical Emergencies
• Public Service Calls
• Fire Prevention Services
• Public Fire Safety Education
• Fire Investigation
• Fire Bylaw Enforcement
• Hazardous Materials
• Community Events

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Fire Department Response

• Our geographical area extends from Yarrow on the
  south west to Rosedale on the east and bounded
  by the Fraser River on the north
• Our career staff at Hall 1 respond to each call,
  24/7 with a minimum staff of 2 and up to 4
  firefighters
• Hall 4 is currently on schedule to be staffed
  24/7 with career firefighters by the end of 2009
• Our POC firefighters, dependent on the nature of
  the call, will respond when paged to assist our
  career firefighters

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Commitment of a POC Firefighter

• Being a POC firefighter is hard work and can be
  time consuming
• Attendance at Monday training nights is required
  to maintain skills
• Additional training is extensive at times and may
  involve weekends
• Emergency calls occur any time of the day or
  night, 24/7, and can disrupt your regular
  routines
• Public education and community events are usually
  held on weekends
• The support of your family is necessary to be
  successful as a firefighter

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POC Firefighter Duties

• POC firefighters support career firefighters at
  emergency incidents, combating, extinguishing and
  preventing fires, saving of life and property
• POC firefighters make ready apparatus and
  equipment after a call
• POC firefighters commit to train to NFPA 1001
  standards
• POC firefighters attend public education and
  community events on behalf of the department

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POC Firefighter Responsibilities

• POC firefighters are dedicated and loyal to the
  organization
• POC firefighters obey a prescribed set of Code of
  Ethics (next slide)
• POC firefighters are role models in our community
• POC firefighters are one of the most highly
  respected work groups in the country and they are
  expected to maintain that standard

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Code of Ethics

• Members recognize the importance and the honour
  associated with being a firefighter and will
  strive to inspire public confidence in the fire
  service
• Members will obey all Federal, Provincial and
  Local Government laws and be guided by the fire
  departments Operational Guidelines in the
  performance of their duties
• Members will not discriminate against others
  because of race, colour, religion, age, sex or
  political affiliation
• Members will conduct themselves in a professional
  manner, being respectful and courteous to the
  public, other emergency workers and each other
• Members will not use their association with the
  Chilliwack Fire Department to pursue personal
  gain or profit
• Member will strive to improve their knowledge and
  skills in order to provide the best possible
  service to our community
• Members will make safety a priority in their work
  for others and themselves
• Members will maintain and respect the
  confidentiality of the personal information of
  others
• Members will maintain the integrity of the
  organization through honest communication and
  actions
• Members of the Chilliwack Fire Department are
  encouraged to challenge the
• behaviours that are contrary to this code.

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Benefits of Being a POC Firefighter

• Coverage with WCB Accident/Life Insurance
• A full complement of station and dress uniform
• A full complement of firefighting turn-out gear
• Excellent technical training is acquired that
  will last a life time
• Enjoying the camaraderie and teamwork synonymous
  with a fire department
• Hourly compensation for training and emergency
  calls
• High level of trust and respect from the community

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Benefits of Being a POC Firefighter

• One of the best benefits of being a POC
  firefighter is the life-long skill set that you
  will acquire
• You will learn some basic skills such as
  electrical safety, gas safety, raising a ladder
  or tying a rope
• You will learn enhanced firefighting skills such
  as using a Thermal Imaging Camera or an AED,
  First Aid, CPR, Fire Pump Operations, Motor
  Vehicle Rescue and many others

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Regular Training Offered

• After recruit training is completed, the
  Chilliwack Fire Department continues to train
  firefighters to the NFPA 1001 Level 2 Standard
• Some of the courses are
• Fire Behavior, Fire Extinguishers, Ropes,
  Ladders, Rescues, Ventilation, Building
  Construction, Water Supplies, Fire Control,
  Public Education and Hazardous Materials Response

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Optional Training Courses

• Chilliwack Fire Department offers extended
  training to POC firefighters in a number of
  disciplines, including
• Fire Pump Operations
• Driving Apparatus
• Aerial Apparatus Operations
• Motor Vehicle Rescue
• First Responder Level 3
• First Aid and CPR

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Recruit Firefighter Qualifications
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Minimum Qualifications

• Current BC Drivers License
• Drivers Abstract demonstrating a safe driving
  record
• Minimum Grade 10 education
• Pass RCMP Criminal Record Check during Recruit
  Training Program

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Minimum Requirements

• Permanent resident of the City of Chilliwack or
  immediate area
• Physically fit
• No phobias (heights or confined spaces)
• Normal vision and hearing
• Complete Recruit Training Program
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Ability to communicate effectively in English
• Available to attend Monday night training
• Successfully complete 1 year probation
• Ability to respond to incidents day and night,
  all year
• Pass a medical exam as prescribed by the Fire
  Department
• Permanent resident of Chilliwack
• Physically fit
• Pass a medical examination with normal vision
  normal hearing
• Have no phobias of heights and confined spaces
• Ability to communicate in English
• Respond to incidents 24/7
• Attend Monday night training
• Ability to work in a team environment

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Preferred Qualifications

• First Aid certification
• CPR certification
• Trades certification (i.e. electrical, plumbing,
  mechanical, construction)
• Class 3 Drivers License
• Air Brake endorsement
• Grade 12 education
• Post Secondary education
• Firefighter experience or training
• Firefighter experience or training

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Preferred Requirements

• Live in close proximity to the Hall
• Daytime availability
• Permanent employment in Chilliwack
• Daytime response capabilities
• Volunteer experience in other organizations

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Restrictions

• Facial hair
• Inability to work in confined spaces
• Inability to work on heights

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Recruitment Process
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Application Shortlist Process

• All applications are reviewed for basic and
  preferred qualifications and requirements and
  rated accordingly
• A shortlist is determined based on the number of
  FFs required at each hall
• Desirable applicants are then contacted and an
  interview is scheduled

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Interview Process

• Interviews are conducted in front of a panel of
  approximately 4 Officers from the department
• Questions are asked randomly by the panel and
  responses are rated
• Tallies are made by all evaluators and a decision
  is made on the best applicant
• Selected applicants move to the physical fitness
  process

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Physical Fitness Process Requirements

• Run 2,400 Meters continuously
• Complete push-ups and sit-ups in a prescribed
  time of 2 minutes
• Measure Grip Strength
• Measure of Flexibility
• Measure Body Dimensions

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Final Step

• After completion of the physical the entire
  application is reviewed and a selection for the
  positions is made based on all measurable
  criteria
• Applicants are contacted by phone and offered a
  position in the Recruit Training Program

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Recruitment Application Dates 2009 / 2010(All
dates to be confirmed)

• Applications Close Oct. 13
• Applications Shortlist by Nov. 2
• Interviews Nov. 3 - 10
• Physical Testing Nov. 12
• Positions Awarded by Nov. 13
• Recruit Camp Begins Nov. 18
• Recruit Camp Ends March 6, 2010
• Recruit Graduation March 10, 2010

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RECRUIT TRAINING PROGRAM
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Program Format

• Instruction provided by Career firefighters and
  supported by POC firefighters
• Class size is normally 12 but may be as much as
  24 firefighters in attendance
• Training is on Wednesday nights and Saturday
  days, mid November to the middle of March
• No classes over Christmas break

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Program Format

• Approximately 100 hours of instruction including
  lectures and practical hands-on training
• Home Assignments
• Homework 2-3 hrs per week
• Additional reading assignments as required
• All books and other reading material are provided
  free of charge

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Attendance Compensation

• 100 attendance is the goal as classes cannot be
  repeated
• Work from classes missed must be completed by
  student
• Student is responsible for picking up homework
  and completing assignments if absent
• Extended absences cannot be granted
• Recruits will be paid 250 for attendance in the
  Recruit Training Program

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Career Firefighter Opportunities
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Firefighting as a Career

• Most career firefighter positions are filled from
  our POC firefighter ranks
• Career hiring is scheduled to continue for the
  next several years
• Internal career hiring information sessions are
  scheduled during the year

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For Further Information Contact

• Training Officer
• Captain Rick Meeres
• 604-792-8713 or email to
• meeres_at_chilliwack.com