Image: Jon Van Huigenbos / Chilliwack firefighters participate in a car fire training exercise by using a metal saw to get under the hood. The City of Chilliwack is now accepting applicants for the fire department's POC (paid on-call) training recruit program. Once graduates complete the program, they are assigned to one of six fire halls throughout Chilliwack.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Fire paid on-call firefighter

Chilliwack Fire Dept. accepting applications for paid on-call firefighter recruit program

Jul 17, 2023 | 10:24 AM

CHILLIWACK — The City of Chilliwack is inviting prospective firefighters with a passion for public service in times of need, particularly those with a flexible schedule, to consider giving back to their community in a unique way.

The application period to enrol in the city’s POC (paid on-call) recruit training program is now open and runs until Friday, August 25. The City of Chilliwack recruits paid on-call firefighters on an annual basis, as part of its recruit training program, to staff six fire halls throughout Chilliwack.

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.

According to the City of Chilliwack’s on-call firefighter recruiting web page, applicants for paid on-call firefighters should 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, 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 do need 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 essential. Immigrants who are legally entitled to work in Canada are invited to apply, including landed immigrants. For safety reasons, beards are not permitted once applicants have been accepted into the recruit training program.

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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.

If you are interested, please check out www.chilliwack.com/POC or contact the Fire Department at 604.792.8713 for applications and more information.