These are the benefits of working with Richmond Fire-Rescue:
Annual Vacation:
- 1-2 years of service: 9 days*
- 3-10 years of service: 13 days
- 11-20 years of service: 17 days
- 21 years of service: 21 days
- 22 years of service: 17 days
- 23 years of service: 21 days
*Due to the nature of shift scheduling, when working with Richmond Fire-Rescue, taking 4 vacation days equates to 12 days off.
Statutory Holidays:
In lieu of the 12 statutory holidays other civic employees receive, firefighters get 12 days off.
Health and Welfare:
You’ll receive lifelong medical coverage for you and your family. Firefighters are covered with a cumulative sick leave plan, as well as group life insurance, dental, Medical Services Plan and extended health care plans.
Hours of Work (Fire Suppression):
Rotating day and night shifts for a 42-hour week, two day shifts (08:00am-6:00pm) followed by two night shifts (6:00pm-08:00am).
After each rotation, a firefighter has approximately four days off.
Hours of Work (Fire Prevention, Community Relations, Fire and Life Safety Educators):
4 day work week, (8:00am-5:15pm) 35 hours per week.
Pension Benefits:
In addition to the Canada Pension Plan, firefighters are covered by the Municipal Superannuation Act and contribute to these Pension Plans.
Yes, there is a danger element to this vocation. We provide our firefighters with the best equipment and training to avoid and reduce the risk of injury.
The community counts on Richmond’s firefighters to respond to emergency situations and protect the public. This includes extinguishing fires, technical rescues, responding to biological and chemical threats and more. We are depended upon to promote fire safety and enforce fire safety standards. There are amazing opportunities to advance in your career. Part of the excitement of being a firefighter is that you never know what to expect!
Firefighters at Richmond Fire-Rescue work in shifts. Shift work involves having to work 4 days on followed by 4 days off. Within the 4 days that they work, 2 days are day shifts followed by 2 days of night shifts.
Richmond Fire-Rescue usually starts the hiring process in the first quarter of the year, with successful applicants being hired in early fall. Also known as a recruitment competition, there are several stages to the process. Announcements will be made on our website – please check back for hiring updates.
Find details on the requirements to become a firefighter on our Become a Firefighter page.
You must be a Canadian citizen and/or have legal entitlement to work in Canada, and go through the same application process as everyone else in Richmond.
Yes, the fire department strongly encourages women to become firefighters.
A first class firefighter’s salary starts at $69,216.
We currently do not offer volunteer opportunities at the fire department. However, other city departments do offer this opportunity. You can find volunteer opportunities through our Join Our Team page.
The Fitness York Test is administered by Ascent Lifestyle Management Inc. It consists of a series of components designed to determine if an applicant has the basic fitness to become a firefighter. It assesses job-related ‘bona fide’ physical requirements.
The components of this test consist of the following:
- Beep Test
- Confined Space Search
- Ladder Climb
- Hose Carry / Stair Climb
- Ladder Lift
- Rope Pull
- Simulated Hose Advance
- Victim Drag
- Forced Entry
Applicants who pass the testing process will be contacted and scheduled for a panel interview. This interview will be predominantly behavioural-based questions.
Firefighter recruitment attracts a high volume of applicants, and as a result the fire department is unable to respond to individual inquiries during the recruitment process or provide individual feedback.
During the 12-month probationary period, new employees train and learn how to become competent firefighters. They have to pass a number of evaluations in order to determine their suitability for permanent employment.
