Recruitment | Township of Bonfield

On Call Firefighters

Being an on-call firefighter is both challenging and rewarding. The Bonfield Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) has paid on call fire fighters that take great pride in belonging to a highly trained fire department. Recruiting new firefighters begins when there are enough vacancies that affect the ability to respond to emergencies. Recruiting drives normally occur every year depending on need. Applications can be submitted at any time and will be considered during the next drive.

Being a firefighter in the Township of Bonfield involves more than training and fighting fires. The BVFD is looking for brothers and sisters who are enthusiastic, interested, dedicated and can attend 2 evening training sessions per month and is also willing to participate in community service, volunteering, helping neighbours and visitors, fund raisers for both the BVFD Firefighter's Association and/or charitable organizations, food and toy drives and participating in municipal or service group events among other things.

Benefits

There are many benefits to becoming a paid-on call fire fighter in Bonfield. Some of the benefits include:

Free transferrable training provided at no cost:
All firefighting to NFPA Curriculum standards, rescue, CPR, first aid and other emergency and safety training,
Potential access to courses held virtually at the Ontario Fire College.
Protective clothing, equipment and gear are provided by the fire department.
Uniforms are provided for you to dress and be a part of an organized and dedicated group of like-minded people.
Payment is made for attendance at training, emergency calls and some other departmental activities.
Leadership opportunities exist for advancement and responsibility on the firefighting and support sides of the department.
Family of firefighters offers the opportunity to enjoy camaraderie and build lifelong friendships locally and through networking with other departments.
Social activities are held on various occasions throughout the year.
Comprehensive insurance coverage is provided through the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board and Accident and Sickness Policy through Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services (VFIS) for you and your family.

And So Much More...

Training

It is the duty of the Bonfield Volunteer Fire Department Chief Training Officer and assisting Training Officers to ensure that all firefighters have received the required information and instruction to be able to carry out their duties as a firefighter. In 2014 as directed by the OFM all fire departments began training according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Training Standard and the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario.

Firefighters must also be able to demonstrate that they meet the minimum skill level required in the areas of training for their position to ensure they are able to do the work safely and effectively at a measurable skill level.

The Training Officer will sometimes utilize outside agencies and fire department staff to assist in the delivery of various parts of the training program. There are several Regional Training Centers which allow individual firefighters the ability for further learning.

Emergency Response Training beyond the basic firefighter training is also offered throughout the province.

Much of the training is also useful in other parts of a firefighter's life whether at home, at work, or at play.

Recruitment Process and Requirements

The firefighter selection process is done by the Bonfield Volunteer Fire Department. The training program is usually run over 10 weeks on every Monday night. The program consists of classroom instruction, hands on practice, proficiency checks and written/practical testing on most aspects of structural firefighting. At the end of the training program, each fire fighter transitions to active emergency response duties.

Recruitment Process

Step 1: Information session

The purpose of the information session is to provide an overview of the Fire Service, outline recruit training, job performance expectations and provide the applicant with an opportunity to ask questions.

Step 2: Interview

Face-to-face interview with the Fire Chief and/or the Deputy Fire Chief and one officer within the Fire Department.

Step 3: Physical demands assessment

Conducted in-house, this assessment consists of various job-related tasks, which must all be successfully completed.

Step 4: Medical examination

Medical examination by a Medical Doctor of your choice.

Requirements

Minimum qualifications for a paid-on call firefighter in the Bonfield Volunteer Fire Department are:

Canadian citizen or legal entitlement to work in Canada as a firefighter
Resident of the Bonfield area and within 5 minutes travel time of the fire hall,
High school graduation diploma (OSSGD) or academic equivalent
Ability to read, write and speak English clearly under normal and stressful conditions

Applicants must have:

a valid Ontario driver's license - Class DZ, or the ability to obtain it within the 1-year probation period,
a driving record that shows responsible and safe driving habits and,
people with demerit points may be ineligible for consideration.
Have a Criminal Records Check completed with Vulnerable Sector Screening

Additional recommended qualifications for a paid-on call firefighter are:

Valid First Aid and CPR certificates,
Be capable of handling intense and sustained physical activity