WELCOME TO THE YUKON FIRE SERVICE FIRE FIGHTER S MALTESE CROSS BRAVERY COURAGE COMPASSION LOYALTY TO DUTY VOLUNTEER & FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
Volunteering with your local fire department is an important and rewarding way to contribute to the health and safety of your community. The Yukon Fire Service is made up of dedicated people who are proud to volunteer and help our communities. Volunteer fire departments operate under the Fire Marshal s Office (FMO). The FMO is responsible for public life safety, fire education and the funding, training and administration of fire departments in Yukon communities. This document will give you a brief history of the fire service in Yukon and outline training requirements and expectations. Members of the Yukon Fire Service, whether volunteer or career, are held to a high standard. Firefighters follow a recognized training curriculum in order to respond safely and effectively to incidents. Remember, with a stepped approach to training, you can find the level of firefighting and fitness that matches your skills and ensures your safety and you have the support of your colleagues to help you succeed. YUKON FIRE SERVICE HISTORY The Fire Service (Fire Departments) has a rich history in Canada, from the first organized fire department established in 1754 by the Union Fire Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the established rural and municipal fire departments of today. The Yukon Territory is no exception. The earliest organized fire departments were established in 1898 in Dawson City and 1901 in Whitehorse. The most recent volunteer fire department was established in 2003 in Mendenhall. The Yukon Fire Service has eight municipal fire departments (volunteer and career), 16 unincorporated volunteer fire departments and 1 international airport fire department. YUKON FIRE MARSHAL S OFFICE The Fire Marshal's Office (FMO) is an organization within the Protective Services Branch of the Department of Community Services, Yukon government. The FMO is responsible for public life safety, fire education and the funding, training and administering of fire departments in Yukon communities. The organizational structure of the FMO is established under the Fire Prevention Act. The FMO comprises the Director of Fire and Life Safety (Fire Marshal), four Deputy Fire Marshals and a Finance and Administrative Assistant. The fire chiefs at the 16 volunteer fire departments report to the FMO. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Marcuson at 667-8236 or mike.marcuson@gov.yk.ca. 2 Volunteer Information
Mission Reduce the loss of life and property from fire damage and other related emergencies throughout Yukon. Mandate Ensure the safety of fire emergency responders and the public. Educate the people of Yukon regarding fire safety and fire protection. Provide a professional, knowledgeable, friendly and courteous level of service to the people of Yukon. Vision Continuously improve life safety and fire protection for the people of Yukon through leadership, education, training, certification and program development. Values Pride and professionalism Safety and respect Teamwork Competence VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS Community fire departments operate because of volunteers like you! Remember you are a volunteer thus you are not expected to make yourself available to respond yearround and 24/7 just because you are in the community. Volunteer fire departments should have a minimum of 15 members to ensure that we have a team ready to respond to an emergency. Most fire departments are structured around a Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, and firefighters. The Fire Chief and/or Deputy Fire Chief duties include administrative matters, training, and working with the members regarding their responsibility. Volunteer fire departments are a registered society under the Yukon Societies Act. All financial matters are managed through the society and all provisions of the Act apply. There is an annual general meeting, usually held in May, where there is an election of society officers. A number of the administrative duties that are part of managing the fire department are supported through the officers of the society. Yukon fire departments are dedicated to: Life safety Scene stabilization Property conservation 3 Volunteer Information
TRAINING EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS Safety of fire fighters is paramount at all times. At no time shall anyone engage in or undertake firefighting activities they are not trained to perform. The Yukon training curriculum and standards meet or exceed the Yukon Occupational Health and Safety Requirements. This includes the National Fire Protection Association 1001 Standard for Professional Fire Fighter Qualifications. Volunteer Fire Department members meet up to four times a month for training. To be considered an active member of your department, you must attend a minimum of 50% of all total training sessions, for which you will receive compensation (see Honorarium section below). Occasionally, training and other special fire service events are offered on weekends. The purpose for this additional training is to offer members alternative opportunities to meet the professional criteria and requirements. HONORARIUM You will receive an honorarium of $22.00 per training night. For those courses that take place during a weekday or fall on weekends, you will receive $22.00 per morning and $22.00 per afternoon session. For all incidents you respond to, you receive $22.00 per hour as long as the criteria and requirements for the type of Incident are met (i.e., a response in your area, Mutual Aid, and Wildland Urban Interface). REIMBURSEMENT You will be reimbursed for any necessary requirements such as First Aid, driver s license requirements and medicals. TAX CREDIT You may be eligible to receive a $3000.00 tax credit for donating a minimum 200 hours to your volunteer fire department. 4 Volunteer Information
MINIMUM TRAINING REQUIREMENTS Don t be overwhelmed by the list you are about to read. All training and associated mandatory requirements are not expected to be completed at once, and should be achieved within six months. There are many ways to meet the requirements, some of which are self-study. You will be compensated for time spent training even in self-study capacity. The Yukon Fire Fighter 1 training curriculum and standard is divided into three progressive classifications/modules. To start, you will focus on the Safe Response and Exposure Protection module. You will need to complete: Incident Command System 100 (ICS-100) Designated chapters and chapter review questions from the Fire Service Training Association s Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations. Seven designated Job Performance Requirements (JPR). JPRs consist of psychomotor and cognitive skill requirements that you must perform correctly while being evaluated. A written final exam, with a minimum score of 70/100. Standard First Aid (CPR Level C & AED) Infectious Disease Control / Blood-borne Pathogens and Administering Oxygen Wildfire Orientation Yukon Fire Service Electrical Safety Class 3 Driver Licence (if applicable) Air Brakes Endorsement (if applicable) ISSUED EQUIPMENT You will be issued firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sometimes also referred to as turnout or bunker gear. Depending on your firefighting experience, you need to complete the registration requirements (including a medical clearance and criminal record check) ICS 100 and attend two training sessions before gear is issued. You will be issued a structural helmet with flashlight, a protective hood, structural jacket and pants, boots and gloves. If you want to purchase some items of your own, please talk to your Fire Chief to make sure you are purchasing compliant gear. You are responsible to check this gear monthly. Upon completion of the Safe Response and Exposure Protection/Fire Fighter Basic level of training (outlined above), you will be issued a pager and/or a radio. 5 Volunteer Information