Recruitment

Are you interested in becoming a paid on-call firefighter in Leduc County? Paid on-call firefighters respond to a variety of emergencies – including but not limited to residential, rural and industrial fire calls, vehicle collisions and airport response – and help keep our communities safe. As a firefighter, you'll receive professional-level National Fire Protection Association training at no personal financial cost and will gain valuable hands-on experience through training scenarios and emergency calls.

Apply today

You can also submit the paid on-call firefighter application by email. We accept applications year-round and fill vacancies as needed.

Requirements

You must meet the below requirements in order to become a paid on-call firefighter in Leduc County:

be available to respond during the day, in the evenings and/or on weekends
live and/or work within 19 km of a Leduc County Fire Services station (Calmar, New Sarepta, Nisku or Thorsby)
minimum of 18 years of age
valid Class 5 driver's licence and your own transportation
clean criminal record check
clean driver's abstract
employer consent (if responding during work hours)
meet all physical agility requirements
attend training sessions at least one evening per week
attend weekend courses and other training , as required

Shift workers are welcome to apply, if they meet the above requirements.

Compensation and benefits

Paid on-call firefighters are compensated on an hourly basis for:

time responding to emergency calls (an average emergency call lasts 75 minutes)
weekly training (not including basic recruit course or other training courses)

We recognize that firefighting is a dangerous job, and continue to expand our programs to mitigate this risk and protect our firefighters. Below are some of the benefits paid on-call firefighters receive:

gear, equipment and uniforms
access to training courses
discounts at some facilities and retailers
coverage under the Workers' Compensation Board
24-hour accidental death and dismemberment insurance
Member and Family Assistance program
access to peer support team

Application process

The hiring process includes a variety of interviews, tests and training before you become a responding firefighter.

Information session and station tour (optional)

We encourage all applicants to attend a station tour and/or information session. If you'd like to attend a tour, please contact us by email and we can make arrangements.

Interview

We will contact applicants that are chosen for an interview. You should bring the following items to your interview:

driver's abstract (if not already provided)
criminal record check (vulnerable sector check)
a copy of your resume
any certificates or licences mentioned in your application

Note: if you don't bring these items to the interview, it may result in the cancellation of the interview.

Practical physical agility test

Applicants are required to participate in and successfully complete a practical physical agility test. This test evaluates an applicant's ability to perform basic firefighting tasks. The following tests will be completed while wearing standard gear:

carry two, five-gallon pails (about 23 kilograms or 50 pounds each) and roughly 21 metres (70 feet) in both directions
drag two lengths of dry 65-millimetre hose 15 metres (50 feet)
climb and descend hose tower ladder
hoist and lower a 23-kilogram (50-pound) hose roll 9.5 metres (31 feet) in the air (control must be maintained throughout)
go through a maze while wearing a black-out face mask

Disclaimer

Before beginning any exercise routine or aerobic fitness evaluation, you should know your physical ability. You are encouraged to review the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Get Active Questionnaire, which will help you decide whether or not to talk to a doctor before becoming more physically active. Further, Leduc County Fire Services encourages you to consult your physician to determine if you are physically able to perform essential, entry-level firefighter job tasks. To help your physician understand the job tasks, review a copy of the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 1582 standard. Do not submit any medical information with your application.

Reference checks and job offer

You are required to provide the names and contact information for three references, including one recent employment reference. We will contact your references for feedback.

Following a successful interview, practical physical agility test and reference checks, successful applicants will be selected to enroll in recruit training.

Orientation and training

You will need to attend an orientation session after receiving a job offer. This is the official start to a one-year probationary period with Leduc County Fire Services. During the orientation session, you will receive:

an overview of Leduc County Fire Services
an overview of Leduc County and Leduc County Fire Services policies and performance standards
an overview of Occupational Health and Safety
sizing for personal protective equipment

If you are accepted as a paid on-call firefighter recruit, you will complete a 12-week, 96-hour training program. This program includes both theory and practical training. At the end of the program, you will take an exam and physical agility reassessment. If you fail to meet these training standards, you may be released.

Paid on-call firefighters must attend weekly training sessions, and additional courses on most weekends for the first year and as required to maintain their skills.