Volunteering as a Chatham-Kent volunteer firefighter is both challenging and rewarding. You will respond to fires, medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, specialized rescues, all community disasters and hazardous events, public assistance calls, provide emergency patient care, perform fire ground and rescue operations, educate the public about safety, assist with fire investigations and maintain fire apparatus, equipment and fire stations.
Advertisement of these positions follow standard municipal hiring practices and are available on the Municipal Job Board.
Volunteer Fire Hall Locations
Wallaceburg, Dover, Chatham North, Dresden, Chatham South, Thamesville, Bothwell, Orford, Ridgetown, Harwich North, Erieau, Raleigh North, Raleigh South, Merlin, Blenheim, Tilbury and Wheatley.
To find your local fire station please visit
Find My Fire Station.
Essential Qualifications for Volunteer Firefighters
- Must be 18 years of age or older and legally entitled to work in Canada.
- Possess a secondary school graduation certificate or equivalent.
- Able to understand and communicate clearly in oral and written English.
- Successful completion of acceptable Firefighter Aptitude and Physical Ability tests.
- Have the ability to do basic mathematical calculations without the use of a calculator.
- The ability to read and follow maps.
- All employees will be required to complete their Health & Safety and other online mandatory training on or before their first day of employment. Other training (including Health & Safety policies) may also be required.
- This position requires the successful candidate to have a valid Ontario driver's licence (minimum class G). A driver's abstract will be conducted by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
- Police Information Search (criminal reference check & working with vulnerable persons).
Auxiliary Program
Candidates will be required to participate in Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue's Auxiliary Program.
The purpose of the Auxiliary Firefighter Training Program is:
- To develop future volunteer firefighters in a consistent manner with measurable progress throughout the volunteer division.
- To facilitate firefighter orientation, it is essential that recruit training be presented as a Municipal based program, allowing newly hired staff to become familiar, not just with their station, but with those stations throughout Chatham-Kent.
The curriculum for the Auxiliary Program is in accordance with and meets job performance requirements outlined in NFPA 1001 (2019) Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications.
Interested candidates are expected to maintain 100% attendance in the Auxiliary Program which runs one weekend per month for a period of one year. Completion of the Auxiliary Program will be determined by successful completion of NFPA 1001 written and practical examinations.
Once candidates complete the mandatory certification process they are eligible for promotion to Volunteer Firefighter, at which point they may respond to emergency incidents.
Interested applicants already in possession of NFPA certification may be excused from participation in the Auxiliary Program pending successful completion of a competency assessment.
