**UPDATE** There is another recruitment drive on from Nov 14 – Dec 9.

The Department invites anyone who is interested in a career in the fire service to attend a non-mandatory recruitment information session on either November 17 or December 1, 2011 (7:00- 8:30 p.m.) No pre-registration is required. The sessions will be held at the CFD Multi-Agency Training Centre at 5705-23 Avenue S.E. Parking is available on-site.

The Calgary Fire Department has launched a recruitment drive with the line “You have the potential. Ignite it.”

The new talent is needed because CFD is about to experience a “grey wave” moving through the force. Seasoned veterans moving past prime fire fighting age and into retirement. Calgary is also building 4 new firehalls to service the ever growing community, meaning there are dozens of jobs to be had for good men (and women).

For the month of March, the CFD is accepting online applications from people interested in being the last line of safety for hundreds of people every day.

In addition to being a high school grad, you need to have a certain level of physical fitness to get in the program. To sort out the candidates, you have 10 minutes and 20 seconds to perform 8 tasks in the Canada Physical Ability Test (C-PAT).

You do a stair mill for 3 minutes wearing a 75 pound vest, the rest of the tasks are performed wearing 50 lbs (far less than the 100 lbs some crews carry into taller buildings). You then pull a hose, carry tools, raise ladders, hammer walls, solve tunnel mazes in the dark, carry bodies and punch out drywall. It sounds easy – until you try it.

I couldnt do all the stairs, I didnt do all of the tasks, and the clock still ran out on me. It’s a pretty special group of people who make it into the Calgary Fire Department.

You have the potential. Ignite it.Get your application in before March 31, 2011.

Buzz

Dad. Broadcaster. Writer.
Three time Guinness World Record Holder.

I run the world for Team Diabetes.