Prepare for Work

Need more information about the Fire Service. Sign up to attend one of our monthly information sessions – Rookie Rundown Forum.

Worklife

The ability to work on rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays is an important requirement for many firefighter positions.

Some departments may have shifts where you work 10 hour day shift and 14 hour night shifts. This type of shifts usually allow for 2 whole weekends off a month. Other departments work 24-hour shifts, typically with a day on, a day off schedule. This means that they may work for 24 hours straight, followed by 48 hours off, or a similar schedule. The above are examples of shifts. It is best to check out the department you are interested in, as each department may have different a schedule for shift rotations and days off.

Firefighters need to be available to respond to emergencies at all times, which means that they may be called into work at any time of the day or night, including weekends and holidays.

This can be challenging for firefighters and their families, as it can disrupt their personal lives and routines. It is important for firefighters to be aware of how their job may affect their families. Here are some things they can do to mitigate the impact:

  • Communication: Regular communication with your family about your work schedule and any potential changes can help the family plan and prepare for any disruptions to the routine. Communication is key especially planning family events and holidays.
  • Long Hours: During emergencies or major incidents, can result in prolonged periods of separation from their families. Make a conscious effort to set aside time for family activities and prioritize family time when away from work.
  • Stress and emotional toll: The nature of firefighter can be stressful and emotionally taxing. The constant exposure to traumatic events and high-stress situations can take a toll on the mental health of firefighters and their families. It is important to have a support network of family, friends and colleagues who can provide emotional and practical support.
  • Risk of Injury: While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of injuries on the job, there are steps to reduce the risk of injury and ensure firefighters are prepared to handle any situation that arises. Fire departments take safety very seriously and provide training to ensure that they are prepared to handle the physically demanding and hazardous nature of the job. This includes regular training on equipment use, emergency response, and risk management to prevent accidents and injuries on the job.
  • Uncertainty: Firefighters and their families may live with the constant uncertainty of when an emergency may occur, which can cause anxiety and stress. Reach out and use the counseling service or peer support to help you and your family cope with the stress and emotional t
Collective Agreements

What is a collective bargaining? is the negotiation process between a union and an employer. Most firefighters are represented by the International Association of FireFighters (IAFF)

The goal of the negotiation is to reach a collective agreement. This is a written agreement that set out the employment terms and conditions for unionized employees, as well as the rights, privileges and duties of the union, employer, and the employee.

When you are doing your research on a department search for their ratified Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) to see what has been agreed upon.

Chain of Command

When applying to a department do your research and find out who are the people in the chain of command (ranks). Know the names and ranks of that department so you can address the Chief Officers properly when you go for an interview. This will impress them.

Fire departments may vary in how they title their positions but below gives you a structure that is common for a medium sized department. There isn’t this level of command and the same sort of responsibilities in small volunteer fire departments. As well, there are many fire departments that use a combination approach where they employ career firefighters, paid-per-call firefighters and volunteer firefighters in the same department.  So do your research.

  • Chief Officers:
    • Fire Chief:
      • The Fire Chief have control over every element of the department and its divisions
    • Deputy Chief:
      • The Deputy Chief essentially provides support to the Fire Chief when dealing with all things related to the fire department.
    • Assistant Deputy Chief:
      • The Assistant Deputy Chief essentially provides support to the Deputy Chief when dealing with all things related to specific areas of the fire department.
  • Captain
    • They are responsible for ensuring that everyone knows their place and their role in the daily operations of a specific area in the department. 
  • Lieutenant:
    • The next position you could get promoted to from firefighter is lieutenant. The lieutenant may act or cover off in the captain role when the captain is away.
  • Firefighter
    • Once the probationary period is over you can become a firefighter.
  • Probationary Firefighter
    • The probationary firefighter is the lowest rank in the firefighter ranks. They are still considered firefighters, but they lack experience and training for that fire department. Usually the probationary period is 1 year.