Nearly two dozen recruits join Chilliwack Fire’s on-call firefighter program

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The POC firefighters currently number 135, Leggatt said, alongside 40 full-time paid firefighters.

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The POC firefighters were being recruited to work at any of the six fire halls within the city.

Those six fire halls include Hall No. 1 at 45950 Cheam Avenue, Hall No. 2 in Rosedale at 51235 Yale Road, Hall No. 3 in Yarrow at 42385 Yarrow Central Road, Hall No. 4 in Sardis at 45433 South Sumas Road, Hall No. 5 in Ryder Lake at 49285 Elkview Road, and Hall No. 6 in Greendale at 6485 Sumas Prairie Road.

It’s far from a cake walk to even become a POC, according to a lengthy list of credentials on the city’s on-call firefighter recruiting website. Applicants for paid on-call firefighters must be at least 19 years of age, a high school graduate or holder of a GED certificate, reside in the Chilliwack, hold a current and valid B.C. driver’s license (Class 5 or better), have a safe driving record and no criminal record, be physically and medically fit, and not have any phobias related to heights or confined spaces. Normal vision and hearing are also required, as regular glasses cannot be worn under a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA mask).

Successful candidates have to attend weekly Monday night training practices from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., and have the ability to respond to calls all year. The ability to communicate effectively in English and use computer programs such as Word, Excel and E-learning platforms are also essential. For safety reasons, beards are not permitted once applicants have been accepted into the recruit training program.

Preferred qualifications, but not mandatory, include previous firefighter experience, daytime response ability, employed and working in Chilliwack, air brake endorsement, current first aid and/or CPR certification, trade certification, post-secondary education, and volunteer experience with other organizations. a Class 1 or 3 license, and residing close to one of the six fire halls.