Probationary Firefighter – Chatham-Kent – 2018

A career with the Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services is both challenging and rewarding. It will require a very high level of dedicated service to the community and a willingness to always help others. This position will require that you respond to all emergencies when called upon. Specifically you will respond to: fire emergencies to perform rescues, protect property and the environment, medical emergencies to provide emergency patient care and assistance, motor vehicle emergencies to provide scene, vehicle and patient stabilization, and other specialized emergencies and calls for public assistance. In addition, you will be required to assist and provide public safety education, public relations, fire inspections, develop pre-emergency plans, train extensively and maintain fire apparatus, equipment, and fire stations.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent will be establishing a list of qualified candidates that can fill the position of recruit firefighter. Vacancies will be filled as they arise. The position is probationary for a period of twelve (12) months from the start date. Candidates must be physically fit to handle the sustained, intense, physical effort often required to perform these duties.

Firefighters are expected to maintain: all required competencies, a high level of professionalism, solve problems, work as part of a dynamic team, and follow written and verbal instructions. Self-motivation as it relates to professional development and a team focused orientation.

All firefighters who are employed by CKFES are expected to:

• Maintain physical fitness and all required certifications
• Maintain a high level of professionalism, solve problems, work as part of a dynamic team
• Follow written and verbal instructions that are provided in English
• Respond to all emergencies when called upon to perform rescues, protect property, the environment and the economy, stabilize emergency scenes and provide patient care as required
• Provide all forms of public assistance as required
• Educate the public about fire prevention and public safety
• Perform fire inspections as required
• Assist with fire investigations
• Maintain fire apparatus, equipment, and fire stations
• Train extensively
• Develop pre-emergency plans

• Over 18 years of age and legally entitled to work in Canada
• Able to understand and communicate clearly in oral and written English
• Have a secondary school graduation certificate or equivalent
• Have a valid standard first aid certificate and a valid CPR Basic Rescuer Certificate (Level C) (Have a look at our learning center for training in your area.)
• You must possess valid Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI) Candidate Testing Service certificates for Stage One, Two and Three to apply to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent;certificates must be valid at time of application; please visit www.ofai.ca for more information

o please attach a copy of these certificates with your application

• Please review the Information Guide (under attachments below)for further information
• NFPA 1001 Level 1 and 2 accredited certification

o OR Employed or previously employed as a career firefighter and grandfathered to NFPA 1001, level 1 & 2

o OR Employed or previously employed as a volunteer firefighter and grandfathered to NFPA 1001, level 1 & 2

• A valid Ontario driver’s licence (minimum class D with a Z endorsement, or equivalent license from another province); a driver’s abstract will be conducted by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. An acceptable driver’s abstract will: be an original document and current (within the previous thirty (30) days); have no more than four (4) demerit points; have no more than two (2) convictions for the same offence; have no criminal code convictions; have no ‘non-medical or administrative’ license suspension in the preceding three (3) years

Other education/experience requirements:

• Post-secondary education an asset (i.e. college, university, business school, apprenticeship program, continuing education)
• Previous professional and/or volunteer firefighting experience an asset
• Other emergency service experiences an asset (i.e. military, paramedic, emergency service, medical experience, etc.)
• Community involvement and/or volunteer experience an asset
• All new employees will be required to complete their Health & Safety and other on-line mandatory training during orientation

Certifications, Memberships, Licenses:

• Ontario Firefighter Curriculum courses is an asset
• Licensed trades an asset
• Standard First Aid certificate
• CPR Level “C” certificate (Have a look at our learning center for training in your area.)
• OFAI CTS stage 1, 2, 3 certificates

Other education or experience would be an asset:

• Primary Care Paramedic (PCP)
• Journeyman in trade
• Other NFPA certifications (Have a look at our learning center for training in your area.)
• Pump Operator
• High Angle Rescue
• Haz/Mat NFPA 472 (Have a look at our learning center for training in your area.)
• Ice/Water Rescue (Have a look at our learning center for training in your area.)
• Swift Water Rescue (Have a look at our learning center for training in your area.)
• Scuba Diver Certification
• Swimming Certificate(s) (Fire Service or Lifeguard qualifications)
• Confined Space Rescue
• Auto Extrication (Have a look at our learning center for training in your area.)
• Airport Firefighting
• Marine Firefighting
• First Responder (Have a look at our learning center for training in your area.)
• Pleasure Craft License (boat)
• Driving experience with heavy trucks

Assessment:

Applicants will be required to submit to an assessment process.

Work Environment:

This position will work both indoors and outdoors.

Hours of Work:

This position works twenty-four (24) hour shifts, and averages forty-two (42) hours per weeks over a four week period.

Police check requirements

Because of the environment this position will be working in, the successful candidate will be required to furnish an original Police Information Search (criminal reference check) (working with vulnerable persons) prior to commencement of employment.

Physical and/or safety requirements:

• Must be physically fit to handle the sustained, intense, physical effort often required to perform these duties
• A detailed physical demands analysis is available for this position
• Lifting: occasional lifting floor to bench, bench to shoulder, above shoulder (up to 34.1 kgs) (equipment, ladder, chain saw, generator, extinguisher, victim, angus manifold, ventilation fan, uncharged/charted hose, furniture, tools, jaws of life, power pack)
• Carrying: occasional carrying (15m) (up to 34.1 kgs) (tools and equipment (jaws, power packs) to the accident scene; remove tools, equipment, and victims from the scene)
• Pushing: occasional pushing at or above shoulder, below shoulder (up to 22.73 kgs or 50 lbs) (raise ladder, break windows, pry doors, move furniture, push equipment into place, CPR, jaws)
• Pulling: occasional pulling/dragging above and below shoulder (up to 90.72 kgs or 200 lbs) (equipment from compartments, pull hose, pull door, drag victims (15 m), open doors, start generator, pull ropes)
• Handling: frequent handling (up to 22.73 kgs) (operate nozzle, hydrant, power cords, roll/reload hose, hand tools, pails of foam)
• Gripping: frequent gripping (hold tools, chainsaw, jaws, hose, coupling, poles, ladder, compartment handles, blocks/cribbing, pry bar, operate extinguisher, power cords, hammer)
• Fire finger movements: occasional (manipulate controls, sprinklers, alarms, utilities, typing/reports, pens, pencils)
• Reaching: occasional and frequent (retrieve and reload materials on truck, reach for victims, reach with pole, reach for roofing materials, alarms, sprinklers)
• Foot action: occasional and frequent (move debris or hose, climbing ladder, climbing in and around truck)