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RECRUITMENT SECTION |
What is a volunteer firefighter? A Volunteer Firefighter is a person male or female who wishes to make a difference in their community by helpingyou're your fellow neighbor, friend or stranger in their time of need. You may respond to a motor vehicle collision, a structure fire, a complicated rescue situation, a forest fire, a medical assist call or a simple false alarm ringing and anything else deemed necessary by 911 dispatch or by the request of other emergency services such as police and ambulance. Volunteers are not paid for their efforts; however there is a small honorarium. We rely on each other in the heat of the moment therefore bonds tend to be strong among members. What type of commitment is involved? The commitment is great; training is scheduled for every Monday evening beginning at 19:30 hrs sharp with a Volunteer Firefighter's Association meeting happening the first Wednesday of each month as well as fundraising events. You must attend 50% of training and 50% of 911 calls received to remain active. Salisbury Fire Dept responds to on average between 120 and 150 calls per annum. The length of an emergency call will vary; it may only last 10 minutes, but could last many hours during a structure fire or large event. What type of training will I need/receive? You will be required to have at a minimum Workplace First Aid and CPR level C. Also you will be required to attain your Level One Firefighter certification which entails approx 200 hrs including practical. This training will be provided to you as well as your First Aid Training if you do not already possess it. Monday night training is very important to help keep your skills sharp, therefore we suggest you try to attend as many Monday nights as possible. How will this affect my family/personal life? The job of volunteer firefighter can be taxing on your family and personal life. Attending emergency calls at all hours of the night and day may cause stress amongst you and your family. Therefore when the orientation session occurs we suggest that your family attend with you. Is this job dangerous? We strive to keep our members as safe as possible by providing the most up to date equipment as possible and adhering to a strict maintenance schedule. Proper training also plays an important role in your proper decision making abilities. Officers on our fire dept are trained to maintain a safe as possible working environment. That being said this is still a dangerous occupation therefore you MUST exercise caution and prudent judgment. Fortunately we have not had any major injuries on our fire dept since being established in 1973. What types of emergencies will I respond to? The first thought which may come to mind are fires, many times this is the case however; the fire service has expanded to include many other tasks. Fire departments are often called to many other situations such as rescues, medical emergencies/EMS assistance, Motor Vehicle Collisions as well as many other types of calls. Fire departments usually possess the necessary equipment and training to assist with most of these emergencies. With training and practice you may have what it takes to handle the pressure of working at an emergency scene of any type. How do I know if I can physically/mentally handle the tasks? Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be very easy and is the best way to ensure your overall health with this profession as well as your other career and everyday life. Before being accepted into our fire dept as a volunteer firefighter you will be required to attend a fitness test. During this test you will be exposed to some of the tasks we complete on a regular basis. You will also be tested for claustrophobia and fear of heights as well as your comfort level with working on a ladder. Remember this is a team effort and no one person is expected to work beyond their physical fitness level. We also have on our roster someone to talk to in the event you are involved in a scene where you may have been negatively affected by the events. (PTS Post Traumatic Stress) How will I know when there is a call requiring my assistance? You will be required to wear a voice pager. When an emergency assistance call is received you will be paged accordingly. You will then proceed to the fire station in your own vehicle to dress into your bunker gear and will respond on the appropriate apparatus as requested by the Scene Commander or other officer. What are the benefits of being a volunteer firefighter? There are very few monetary benefits of being a volunteer firefighter. You will receive a small honorarium each December, usually between $500 and $1000 depending upon your attendance. The Village of Salisbury also pays for your vehicle registration each year as an added reward. You will also receive life saving skills, respect and feel good about helping out your fellow neighbors in their time of need. Will I be involved in fundraising? Most definitely yes, we fundraise year round for many different causes in the community. Muscular Dystrophy and Tim Hortons Camp Day are two major fund raising events we attend. We also fundraise for the volunteer firefighters association (VFA). The VFA was formed to assist firefighters in assisting others and for in house needs. The VFA uses donations to support purchasing of equipment, local charities; supports firefighters attend the Combat challenge event (annual) and many other charities. Some other fundraising involves car washes, selling tickets and being involved with community days. Could I be hired specifically for one task and not take the Level One training? i.e. driver, hose line At this time you are required to be level one trained to operate any apparatus (fire truck) or complete any of the duties of firefighter in the Province of NB. What is the most important point to consider when becoming a volunteer firefighter? The absolute most important aspect to consider when joining is SAFETY. We will provide you with the training you will need to complete the tasks however we cannot be with you at every moment during an intense emergency scene, therefore prudent judgment needs to be a key part of your actions at all times. You must consider all consequences of your actions and remember that it may be a life changing action for you, a fellow fire fighter or the patient. It is expected that ALL firefighters will adhere to our SOP's (standard operating procedures) and to the training of the Level One fire course. I'm interested but it seems very serious, is there ever any fun or is it all work and no play? It doesn't seem serious, it IS! There are many situations which you may never forget; however, you will see that we have a lot of fun. Our fire dept has an excellent personnel roster that work and play extremely well together. If there's any doubt about our TEAM environment please contact any of our firefighters today. HIRING: The Hiring Process Once the Salisbury Fire Dept has advertised we are recruiting, you may apply at the Village Office, applications are also available on our website for download. Upon completion of the application we will collect all applications received and hold an orientation session for all applicants. We welcome all applicants and encourage their family members to attend the session so you will have an accurate understanding of what to expect when becoming a volunteer firefighter. After the orientation all applicants meeting minimum requirements will complete a physical test including a hose drag, mannequin drag, ladder lift, SCBA mask test, ladder climb, etc. An interview with Fire Dept. Officers will follow the physical testing. Applicants to be hired onto the service will begin Level One training. Prerequisites (required): " Reside within the Salisbury Fire Department Coverage Area " Minimum 18 years of age " Provide copy of Criminal Record Check " Medical Exam (upon request of Fire Dept only) " Physical Fitness Test at Fire hall " Attend Orientation Session " High School Diploma " Valid Driver's License Preferred Qualities (not required): " Previous Firefighter experience " Reside within village limits " Apply with Resume " Medical Training " Related Skills (truck driver, etc). To apply: Please either download application from the website www.salisburyfire.ca or pick up at the village office. Once you have completed the application you may bring it to the Village Office during business hours. We will contact you for the orientation and physical fitness test. You will also be required to have a criminal record check completed at your local RCMP detachment, usually there is no cost since it is for a volunteer association. |