Firefighter Probationer – Victoria & Esquimalt (BC) – 2024

This position is responsible for responding to fire and life hazard emergencies in accordance with standard operating procedures. These emergencies can involve minimizing distress and suffering, and frequently include numerous hazards.

Firefighters work closely with local schools, community organizations, and citizens to increase fire safety awareness.

Firefighters maintain, clean, and test equipment ensuring its readiness for use. Working as a firefighter means continuous learning, exercises, lectures, practice drills and other forms of training are all part of the job.

Candidates must be able to fulfill the following duties:

• Respond to fire and rescue incidents, dangerous goods incidents and life hazard emergencies, which may require the removal of people from danger.
• Familiarize and safely operate all firefighting equipment and related rescue tools
• Adhere to Policies, Standing Orders and Operational Guidelines of the Victoria Fire Department and City of Victoria and/or Esquimalt Fire Rescue Services and the Township of Esquimalt.
• Achieve and maintain a First Responder 3 licence or higher and administer first aid.
• Possess and maintain a valid Class 3 driver’s licence with air brake endorsement.
• Perform routine and unscheduled maintenance of apparatus, portable and fixed tools and equipment.
• Perform routine maintenance at fire stations, including cleaning and housekeeping.
• Compose comprehensive reports.
• Attend training sessions, during both regularly scheduled shifts and those beyond the normal scheduled hours of work.
• Maintain licences and certifications, as required.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of the topography of the City of Victoria and/or the Township of Esquimalt including streets, block numbers, water distribution systems critical infrastructure, or other areas of potential hazard or increased risk.
• Conduct fire inspections.
• Enter and maintain statistics in database.
• Comfortable working in and around a marine environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• NFPA 1001 Firefighter 1 and 2
• Advanced medical or first aid training (FR3, or equivalent)
• Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residence
• Proof of Grade 12 or equivalent
• Valid British Columbia Class 3 Driver’s Licence with Air Brake Endorsement or equivalent
• A current driver’s abstract reflective of a safe and responsible driving history
• Successful completion of the University of Victoria or University of Alberta Fitness Test.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Effort

• Must be able to lift/carry/push/pull 50 pounds or more, from floor to above shoulder height and from floor to waist height.
• Must climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach above and below shoulder level in all directions, seize, hold, grasp and turn objects with hands, stand and walk.

Mental Effort

• Must be able to follow instructions, make critical and timely decisions.
• Exposure to traumatic incidents.

Visual/Auditory/Olfactory Effort

• Normal eyesight with color vision sufficient to distinguish the colors red, green and yellow.
• Normal hearing with no artificial aids.
• Must be able to smell/detect odours.

Work Environment

• Primarily field work.
• Office environment. (occasional)
• Adverse working conditions requiring personal protective equipment. (occasional)
• Confined Spaces.
• Working at Heights.
• Working around water.
• Hazardous Environments.