Firefighter Requirements

The Recruiting Process

The City of Coquitlam does not accept formal applications for Career or Auxiliary Firefighter positions outside an active recruitment. Formal firefighter application forms are available to be downloaded or picked up in person from our Human Resources counter when recruitment begins. The next Career Firefighter recruitment may occur in summer 2012.  Currently, there are no Auxiliary Firefighter recruitment timelines to provide.

When recruitment begins:

• Advertisements for firefighter vacancies are posted on the City’s website, CivicInfo, ethnic newspapers and websites as well as local newspapers
• Candidates are encouraged to carefully consider their qualifications against the  required qualifications prior to completing and submitting the application form

Recruitment process:

• Includes a written application form, short listing of applicants, physical  assessment and aptitude testing, a panel interview and references
• Successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical assessment by our  physician
• Appointments are conditional upon a satisfactory criminal record search
• At the end of the process, successful applicants are hired
• Depending on the needs of the Fire/Rescue Department, an eligibility list may be  created for a limited period of time
• Please note candidates may be eliminated from consideration at several stages in  the recruiting / testing process

Full Time Career Firefighting Job Requirements

Candidates should be aware that changes to the City’s required and preferred qualifications may be modified due to changes in the industry so it is important to check the qualifications before applying.

Required Qualifications:

• Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant with legal entitlement to work in Canada
• Valid first aid certifications (WCB Occupational First Aid Level-1 or First Responders – Level 1 or candidate to provide equivalency documentation)
• Physically fit for the position of Firefighter
• Short listed candidates will be required to undergo a physical assessment and aptitude testing during the recruitment process, as well as a medical examination with our physician at the end of the recruitment process at the City of Coquitlam’s expense
• Ability to swim (Candidates will be required to participant in a swim test)
• Vision: Any eye condition/vision problem which results in a candidate not being able to safely perform one or more essential job tasks for the position of a Firefighter inclusive of driving fire apparatus under emergency conditions. Medical testing may be used to determine a candidate’s suitability
• Normal unaided hearing
• High School Graduation (Proof of certificate or GED must be provided)
• Successful completion of an Approved Fire Fighter training program resulting in the completion of a NFPA 1001 Level 1 and 2 Certification.  (Proof of transcript and certification must be submitted with application displaying Pro Board or IFSAC accreditation.) PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT HUMAN RESOURCES TO INQUIRE WHAT COURSES ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE NFPA 1001 Level 1 & 2 certification and which courses are “other" fire science courses. You will need to contact the issuing agency to obtain this information
• Valid BC Driver’s License, Class 3 with Air endorsement or candidate to provide  equivalency documentation
• A driving record that demonstrates responsible and safe driving behaviour
• A  current Driver’s Abstract from the Motor Vehicle Branch must be submitted with  your application
• More than 6 points in the last 3 years from the date of application is  considered excessive and does not meet requirements
• Candidates with more than 6 points in the last 5 years, but not in the last  3 years, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
• Candidates that have more than one suspension will be reviewed on a  case-by-case basis
• No conviction for a criminal offence related to the job of firefighter (a criminal  record search will only be requested of short listed candidates when the interview has concluded)
• Must be willing to reside in one of the following cities upon being hired:

Coquitlam | Port Coquitlam | Port Moody | Burnaby | New Westminster | Vancouver
Maple Ridge | Pitt Meadows | Surrey | North Vancouver - City | North Vancouver - District
Delta | Richmond | Langley - City | Langley - Township

Within permissible boundaries:

West Vancouver | White Rock | Abbotsford | Mission | Chilliwack

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful completion of one year or minimum of 30 credits from a recognized post secondary education (academic/technical/trades courses) relevant to the operations of fire services over and above NFPA Firefighter 1 and 2. (Proof of transcripts must be submitted with copy of certificate/diploma/degree to qualify for equivalency Successful completion of a recognized post-secondary education program  (academic, technical, or trades training, TQ) relevant to the operations of fire  services.  You will be required to supply a transcript with application to qualify for  equivalency
• Additional Fire Service related courses not included in NFPA 1001 Level 1 and 2  such as OFA III or First Responder III, etc.  Proof of certificate must be submitted with application
• Valid B.C. Emergency Medical Assistance, First Responder License level 3 with  Spinal Immobilization and AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). Proof of certificate must be submitted with application
• Accumulated work experience related to the needs of the Fire Service such as auxiliary firefighting, forestry firefighting, and/or, paramedic experience

Auxiliary Firefighting Job Requirements

Our Fire and Rescue Services Department includes a group of paid, auxiliary firefighters whose duties are to supplement the services provided by the full time career firefighters.  Coquitlam Fire/Rescue does not utilize volunteer firefighters.  Auxiliary firefighters are not responsible for the full range of duties of the career firefighters so the requirements and recruitment for auxiliary firefighters differ from those of the full time career firefighters.

Candidates should be aware that changes to the City’s required and preferred qualifications may be modified due to changes in the industry so it is important to check the qualifications before applying

Required Qualifications:

• High School graduation
• Canadian citizenship status or landed immigrant status
• Valid first aid certifications (WCB Occupational First Aid Level-1 or First Responders – Level 1 or equivalent)
• Driving record that demonstrates responsible and safe driving behaviour
• No conviction for a criminal offence related to the job duties of a firefighter
• Close living proximity to our fire stations (not more than 10 minutes driving distance from a fire station)
• Must be available for weekly fire practices (Thursday evenings and the occasional Saturday or Sunday)
• Class 5 drivers license with air brake endorsement

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ability to leave work to attend a fir/rescue realted emergency during the day, weekends and/or evenings on an as needed basis
• Related fire education courses
• Class 3 drivers license with air brake endorsement

In order to ensure that your application is received legibly and in its entirety, we suggest you courier it to our office or drop it off in person:

City of Coquitlam
Human Resources Division, 2nd floor
3000 Guildford Way
Coquitlam, B.C.   V3B 7N2

Alternatively, though not recommended for applications with numerous pages:

Email: careers@coquitlam.ca
Fax:  604-927-3075

General inquiries by email:  hradmin@coquitlam.ca
Phone:  604-927-3070