Selection Process

** Note: Individuals who are unsuccessful at any stage in the application process will be notified by mail, with accompanying general description of reason. Please do not contact the department by telephone to inquire as to your status.

Application

Interested applicants must complete the accompanying application form and submit it to either the Firehall or Municipal Hall staff. Vacancies occur irregularly and competitions for positions are held on an as-needed basis. Applications will be held on file for a period of one year. Please fill out the application carefully and ensure that all sections are complete.

Written Test

The next stage in the process is a written aptitude test administered in a large group setting by the Membership Committee of the department. Factors to be assessed include:

• recall

• reading & comprehension

• judgment and decision making

• basic mathematics and science

• tools and equipment

• mechanical devices and hydraulics

• interpersonal skills

** Pass Mark is 75%

Physical Test

Applicants successfully completing the written test will progress to the physical test.

All applicants coming to this stage must provide written documentation from their Physician of good physical and mental health, which allows them to perform the duties of a firefighter. This stage will assess the following components directly related to abilities required of firefighting.

• aerobic fitness and capacity to perform physically demanding exertion over extended periods

• arm/grip strength

• upper body strength

• coordination

• endurance

• ladder climb

The above items are assessed utilizing two separate components of the physical evaluation:

The first component is the aerobic fitness test.  The PMFRS utilizes a Multi-Stage Shuttle Run, or "Beep Test".  In it the candidate must complete a series shuttle runs over a flat, non-slip surface between two markers placed 20 meters apart.  In the test the candidate runs back and forth between the markers in time with audio signals.  Each successive minute the interval between the audio signals deceases, requiring the candidate to pick up the running pace the longer they go.  This test records your maximum cardio-vascular fitness level and plots your result against a standard which corrects for age and gender. To review the test see the attached website www.topendsports.com/testing/beephome.htm

** Pass for this component is a result of above average or better for your age group and gender.

Following the "beep test" the candidate will walk/rest for approximately 30 minutes to cool down and recover before beginning the next component.

The second component of the physical evaluation involves the completion of the following evolutions as part of a timed simulation. The applicant will wear full firefighter turn-out gear and SCBA bottle (pic1) but will not be required to wear a mask or breathe the bottled air:

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• climb three interior ladders in the tower (30 feet) (pic2)

• a balanced crawl across a horizontal ladder (pic3)

• a 50 foot victim/dummy drag (approx. 165 lbs) (pic4)

• a 22 foot ladder climb up to roof eave and then back down (pic5)

• a 40 foot hand over hand raise and lower of a 50’ rolled hose (approx. 20 lbs) (pic6)

• a shoulder carry 50’ of flaked 2-1/2” hose approx. 75 meters and connect to a hydrant (pic7)

• an advance of a 50’ length of 1-3/4” hose fully charged with water

• a forcible entry simulation (pic8)

** Pass Time for this component is 7:00 minutes

Board Interview

A board of departmental members will interview successful applicants from the physical and/or written test. The board will be made up of representatives from the Membership Committee and the Executive. This interview will take the form of a personal assessment of each applicant based on a pre-determined series of questions covering areas such as employment, experience, related skills, availability, interpersonal skills and stress management.

** Pass Score is 75%
 

Fire Chief / Training Chief Interview

All applicants who successfully complete the Board Interview are required to have a final assessment by the Fire Chief and the Assistant Chief of Training. A Criminal Record Search will be conducted on all applicants successful to this stage. Written consent from the applicant to perform this search, as well as a satisfactory search result, are conditions of hire.

Training and Probation

New appointees will undergo a basic training program. They will be on probation for a period of between six (6) and twelve (12) months and will be continually evaluated by all members. Probationary members will be continually advised of their status and progress throughout their probation, as per the PMFRS Recruit Firefighter Probation - Operational Guideline.