Firefighters
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Firefighters protect the public from the dangers of fire and other hazards by controlling and putting out fires. They also provide pre-hospital care after rescuing people, respond to dangerous goods incidents, maintain equipment, practice fire prevention and provide emergency paramedical services. (alis) They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal governments and by large industrial establishments that have internal firefighting services (National Occupational Classification).
Forest firefighters use a variety of tactics to suppress, control and prevent forest fires. They might also be involved in first aid, wildland rescue operations, natural resource management and maintenance. Forest fire fighters work for logging companies, contractors, and the government. (ECO Canada)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information:
- Manitoba Aboriginal Health Careers - Success Stories (video) - Fire Medic
- A Day in the Life of a Firefighter - from The Princeton Review
- Sokanu: Firefighter - occupational profile and videos
- Firefighter career profile - information and video from the Canadian Armed Forces
- Interview: Firefighter - from StudyinCanada.com
- Let's Talk Science career profiles:
- Forest Firefighter profile - Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada
- Careers in Wildland Fire - U.S. Forest Service
- A day in the life of a forest firefighter - podcast and text interview from the U.S. NPR
- I want to be an aerial firefighter. What will my salary be? - career and salary information from The Globe and Mail Salary Series
Education
The University of Manitoba does not offer firefighter training. The University of Manitoba does provide Fire Paramedic Service Assessments. Please view the links below for more information about training and employment. If you are a University of Manitoba student who would like assistance determining an education plan that suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant.
Exploring Education Options
- Join Our Team (see Firefighter Application Manual) - Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service
- International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)
- Forest firefighting training in Ontario (scroll to view college programs) - Ontario Government
- Information for Fire chiefs - Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Report (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- Canadian Fire Department Profile, 2014-2016 (pdf) - facts and figures on fire departments and career and volunteer firefighters - February 2018 National Fire Protection Association
- United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg Collective Agreement (select link and refer to Appendix 1) - City of Winnipeg
- Compensation Disclosure Report (select link and refer to the Fire Paramedic Service section) - City of Winnipeg
- Salary and benefits of a firefighter - from Calgary Fire Department
- Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Senior Officers' Association Collective Agreement (select link and refer to Salary Schedule) - City of Winnipeg
- Canadian Occupational Projection System - Firefighters and non-commissioned ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs
- International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) - Canadian Chapter
- Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs
- United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg - Local 867 of the IAFF
- Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC)
- Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association (CVFSA)
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Manitoba District Map - Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner (refer to PDF link)
- Association of Manitoba Municipalities - view map or directory
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience.
- Canadian Firefighter magazine
- Canadian Fire Safety Association
- 100 Years of the IAFF - International Association of Fire Fighters
- Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service
- Firefighting in Canada magazine
- Firehall Forum
- Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner
- Canadian Wildland Fire Information System - Natural Resources Canada
- Institution of Fire Engineers - Canada branch
- NFPA Journal - a magazine of the National Fire Protection Association
- The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF)