By Cheryl Jahn

PG Fire Department recruiting

Feb 13, 2019 | 2:21 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – As with so many City departments, the Fire Department is looking at a lot of retirements of late.  Fire Chief John Iverson says there was a roster of 16 eligible firefighters, but that list will be depleted by the end of the year. 

“Probably in the last two years, we’ve had a combination of retirements and staff have had job opportunities elsewhere and they’ve taken them. We expected, probably in a three-year period, a certain amount of turnover and we say that in two years.” 

That’s why there is a recruitment drive underway. But there are plenty of other communities in the same situation.

“Obviously the folks that have that training who want to get into the profession, they have options on where they may go,” explains Ron Whitwham, General Manager of Community Services, who oversees the Protective Services.

And, unlike years ago when the City used to train firefighters in-house, today’s recruit has some pretty stringent requirements to meet before they are considered. The preferred qualifications include “Successful completion of a minimum of one-year post-secondary education (30 credits) or completion of two years of a recognized apprenticeship program. Emergency Medical Responder (EMR). Current certificates in any of the following speciality areas: Hazardous Materials; High Angle Rescue; Swift Water Rescue; Ice Rescue; Confined Space Entry; Fire Service Instructor. Previous firefighting experience (paid or volunteer). Current aquatics-related life-saving certificates. Experience in work related to the interests of Fire Services (for example: building construction, mechanics, first aid, nursing, paramedical, driving trucks or large emergency vehicles, etc.). Fluency in a language other than English.”

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The City is taking applications until February 22nd.