HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
A common path is to finish secondary school, keep up strong physical fitness, and gain teamwork and community service experience through sports, volunteering, or part-time work. Many people then apply to a postsecondary pre-service firefighter program or related fire protection training, since programs and employer preferences can vary by province and department. Some candidates also build useful experience in emergency response, first aid, or public safety settings. After training, applicants usually go through selection steps and may begin as recruits or probationary firefighters before taking on full duties.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents, bomb threats and other emergencies
- Rescue victims from burning buildings and accident sites
- Control and extinguish fires using manual and power equipment, such as axes, water hoses, aerial ladders and hydraulic equipment and various firefighting chemicals
- Administer first aid and other assistance
- Ensure proper operation and maintenance of firefighting equipment
- Inform and educate the public on fire prevention
- Train to maintain high level of physical fitness
- Assist the public, the police and emergency organizations during times of major disasters
- May participate as members of a trauma or emergency response team and provide para-medical aid to accident victims or ill persons
- May supervise and co-ordinate the work of other firefighters.
SKILLS TO BUILD
Skills used in this Career
Community service workPhysical fitnessTeam Work