Firefighters in Canada?? Best firefighting school in Canada?

kickchickbecca · 09-10-2009, 02:46 PM

Hey yall!
Are any of you firefighters in Canada?
And if so.. what firefighting school did you go too?

I'm thinking of becoming a firefighter and I want to know what my besr route is!

Thanks!

M0tive · 09-10-2009, 02:49 PM

Humber has an overall really good reputation for having some of the best EMS programs. (Police, Fire, paramedics, obviously).

Couple of my buddies went the North Campus for Fire Fighting and are now hired on at 24.

I just finished my Police Foundation program and will be applying in couple years (too young atm), but Humber has a very good hire/applicant ratio.

AreYouSerial · 09-10-2009, 02:51 PM

My mom teaches at Centennial College, apparantly they have a good firefighting and police foundations prog

kickchickbecca · 09-10-2009, 02:53 PM

Would ya'll recommend I get a bachelors degree in something else first?
A. Because I'll be very young.
B. In case I get hurt, I will always have a backup education..?

frankky4fingers · 09-10-2009, 02:54 PM

A lot of different schools have great programs, none of them are really much better than the others.

might also want to take a look at www.trainingdivision.com its based out of texas, much quicker and cheaper than canadian schools, international seals.

either way be prepared to way 2-3 years to get hired.. massive ammount of candidates right now

M0tive · 09-10-2009, 02:55 PM

I'd suggest going a Bachelors now while you have the will power to deal with school.

Not to mention, even if you do finish the program, like you said, you'll still be very young (18-19 when your finished).

You are a female, so it will be easier for you to get accepted in (no hating, just a fact), but even at that young of an age it will be very difficult.

Do a Bachelors, then back track into something like that, looks better on a resume anyway.

IAFF3591 · 09-10-2009, 03:01 PM

Hey,

I started as a volunteer so ended up going the long way to get my certification as a firefighter. During that time, I worked as a paramedic and obtained a college diploma in health management.

Fire departments now typically only hire those with pre-employment training from the various fire schools. We have now started hiring those who went to these schools and I have to say, they still have A LOT to learn once they get working.

Fire departments also seem to hire those with an education. Our last few new hires have also either had paramedic training or a degree/diploma. And as you said, it is very easy to get injured so you need the education as a back up.

I'm at work now and our probie just finished making supper so any other questions, just ask.

kickchickbecca · 09-10-2009, 03:06 PM

IAFF - Thanks so much for the response! Also, could you tell me a bit about being a firefighter? In Canada specifically!