Image: City of Abbotsford / Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service is looking to hire up to 30 paid on-call firefighters in its latest recruiting blitz. According to a job description on the City of Abbotsford website, Abbotsford Fire employs a system that compensates paid on-call (POC) firefighters based on their attendance to calls and practices. The city says POC firefighters play an important role supporting the full-time firefighters during incidents and participate in community education and engagement events.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service

Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service looking to hire up to 30 paid on-call firefighters

Apr 22, 2024 | 10:41 AM

ABBOTSFORD — To help bolster its firefighting roster amid steady growth in the city, Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service is looking to hire up to 30 paid on-call firefighters in its latest recruiting blitz.

According to a job description on the City of Abbotsford website, Abbotsford Fire employs a system that compensates paid on-call (POC) firefighters based on their attendance to calls and practices. The city says POC firefighters play an important role supporting the full-time firefighters during incidents and to participate in community education and engagement events.

POC firefighters are based out of Fire Halls 3 (Aberdeen), 4 (Matsqui Village), 5 (Mt. Lehman), and Hall 9 (Riverside). Once individuals successfully complete the recruit training program, POC firefighters are assigned to a hall for ongoing training, equipment maintenance, and incident response. When required, POC firefighters are notified through a mobile alerting system of pagers and a personal mobile phone application to respond to their assigned fire hall.

Expectations for POC firefighters include the successful completion of the program, attendance at weekly Wednesday practice nights, including a minimum of 50 per cent of practice nights, successful completion of a 6-month probation period, responding to a minimum 30 per cent of emergency call-outs, maintaining an acceptable driving record and good community standing, and exhibiting behaviour consistent with the values and code of ethics for the City of Abbotsford.

To apply, individuals must be 18 years of age or older, have completed grade 12 or equivalent, live in the city of Abbotsford or within 8 kilometres of an Abbotsford fire hall, be eligible for employment, be fluent in English (written and verbal), consent to a criminal record check and have a valid unrestricted driver’s license and a safe driving record.

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Prospective firefighters do need to pass the candidate physical ability test, pass a written exam and skills assessment, successfully complete an interview, pass a medical exam (visual and hearing requirements), and live in the city of Abbotsford or within 8 kilometres of an Abbotsford fire hall.

The hourly rate of pay is $17.40 an hour.

Visit Abbotsford Career Opportunities for more information on the job description and ways to apply.