HomeMy WebLinkAboutVolunteer Fire Service Establishment & Qualifications Policy amended March 6, 2018 0 Cape Breton Regional Fire and Emergency Services
Fire Service Policy 1
VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT & QUALIFICATIONS
1. PREAMBLE
It is of the utmost importance that the fire and emergency services manage the risk
associated with fire and emergency operations. To accomplish this a progressive
certification program for identified rank levels is required.
This policy provides for a graduated increase of knowledge, skill, and ability in the areas
of Chief Officers, Captains, Lieutenants, Incident Safety Officer, Fire Training Officer,
and Fire Prevention Officers.
2. SCOPE
This policy identifies the minimum performance and certification requirements necessary
to perform the duties of a firefighter, fire officer' and chief fire officer.
3. PURPOSE
This policy provides a method of obtaining the appropriate certification,level of
knowledge, skill, and ability to provide a professional and safe fire and emergency
service.
4. DEFINITIONS
In this policy:
a) "Fire Department" means a Volunteer Fire Company approved by council of the Cape
Breton Regional Municipality; and
b) "Training Course" means a course meeting NFPA or other accepted standards provided
by or approved by the Chief Director of Fire and Emergency Services.
5. ESTABLISHMENT
No Fire Department or emergency service shall be organized or formed within Cape
Breton Regional Municipality unless Council grants approval.
a) All fire and emergency services must register with the Municipality in accordance
with the Cape Breton Regional Fire and Emergency Services Registration Policy; and
b) All Fire Departments shall appoint a Fire Prevention Officer, Fire Training
Officer, and an Incident Safety Officer.
1 Fire Officer, covers: Lieutenant, Captain,Safety Officer, Prevention Officer,Training Officer
VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT&QUALIFICATIONS
6. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FIREFIGHTERS
All new members of a Fire Department shall obtain within 1 year of their acceptance into
the Department:
a. a Level 1 Firefighting Certification or Hot Zone qualification; and
b. an Incident Command System 100 Qualification
7. QUALIFICATIONS OF LIEUTENANTS
Only those persons having the following qualifications shall be permitted to stand for the
election of the office of Fire Lieutenants:
a) Minimum of three (3) years' experience;
b) Level One Firefighter Certification;
C) Incident Command System 200 within twenty-four (24) months; and
d) Incident Safety Officer within twenty-four (24) months.
8. QUALIFICATIONS OF CAPTAINS
Only those persons having the following qualifications shall be permitted to stand for the
election of the office of Fire Captain:
a) Minimum of five (5) years' experience;
b) Level One Firefighter Certification;
C) Incident Command System 200 within twenty-four (24) months; and
d) Incident Safety Officer within twenty-four (24) months
9. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER
Only those persons having the following qualifications may be appointed to the position
of Fire Prevention Officer:
a) Minimum of three (3) years' experience;
b) Level One Firefighter Certification;
C) Fire and Life Safety Educator I, twenty-four (24) months, an
d) Incident Command System 200 within twenty-four (24) months.
VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT&QUALIFICATIONS
10. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FIRE TRAINING OFFICER
Only those persons having the following qualifications may be appointed to the position
of Fire Training Officer:
a) Minimum of five (5) years' experience;
b) Level One Firefighter Certification;
C) Incident Command System 200 within twenty-four (24) months.
d) Incident Safety Officer within twenty-four (24) months.
11. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICER
Only those persons having the following qualifications may be appointed to the position
of Fire Safety Officer:
a) Minimum of five (5) years' experience,
b) Level One Firefighter Certification,
C) Incident Command System 200 within twenty-four (24) months, and
d) Incident Safety Officer within twenty-four (24) months.
12. QUALIFICATIONS OF CHIEF OFFICERS
Only those persons having the following qualifications shall be permitted to stand for the
election of Chief, Deputy Chief, or Assistant Deputy Chief:
a) Minimum of eight (8) years' experience;
b) Minimum of two (2) years as an officer;
C) Level One Firefighter Certification;
d) Incident Command System 300 within twenty-four (24) months;
e) Incident Safety Officer within twenty-four (24) months, and
f) Module one (1) NFPA 1033 Certification - Fire Investigation—Fundamentals;
within 36 months
VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT&QUALIFICATIONS
13. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM QUALIFICATIONS
The duties and tasks performed by the Cape Breton Regional Fire and Emergency
Services Hazardous Materials team differs from those required by firefighters.
14. QUALIFICATIONS OF HAZARDOUS TEAM MEMBERS
All new members of the Cape Breton Regional Fire and Emergency Services Hazardous
Materials Team shall obtain:
a) Hazardous Materials Awareness Level Certification within 12 months;
b) Incident Command System level 100 within 12 months;
c) All new members selected for Operational duties will be required to complete Hazmat
Operations within 24 months; and
d) All new members selected to perform technical duties will be certified to the Hazmat
Technician level within 48 months.
15. QUALIFICATIONS OF LIEUTENANTS
Only those persons having the following qualifications shall be permitted to stand for the
election of the office of Lieutenant:
a) Minimum of three (3) years' experience;
b) Incident Command System 200; and
C) Operation Level Certification.
16. QUALIFICATIONS OF CAPTAIN
Only those persons having the following qualifications shall be permitted to stand for the
office of Captain:
a) A minimum of five (5) years' experience;
b) Incident Command System 200; and
C) Technician Level Certification.
17. QUALIFICATIONS OF CHIEF OFFICERS
Only those persons having the following qualifications shall be permitted to stand for the
election of Chief or Deputy Chief:
a) A minimum of ten (10) years' experience;
b) Minimum of two (2) years' experience as a Captain;
C) Incident Command System 300; and
d) Technician Level Certification.
VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT&QUALIFICATIONS
18. QUALIFICATIONS OF INCIDENT SAFETY OFFICERS
Incident Safety Officers shall be appointed on scene by the Incident Commander or
Officer in Charge of Hazardous Materials Operations. Only those persons meeting the
qualifications of Lieutenant or above will be considered.
Note: The Hazardous Materials Awareness, Operations, and Technician Courses will be
in accordance with NFPA 1072.
19. APPOINTMENT TO OFFICE—AVAILABILITY OF TRAINING
No chief officer or officer will be required to relinquish their appointment to an office if
they have not been provided the opportunity to gain the stated requisites within the
assigned time frame.
20. INCUMBENTS
All incumbent officers of any Fire Department within the Cape Breton Regional
Municipality at the time that this policy comes into force will be grandfathered into their
present office. Incumbents are strongly encouraged to review the qualification
requirements for their office and make a concerted effort to attain same.
21. REVIEW
This policy shall be reviewed every five years commencing on the date of Council
approval.
This policy shall be considered minimum requirements. Nothing in this policy would
prevent any department from setting a policy requiring higher qualifications.
Those incumbent officers leaving their positions after implementation of this policy will
be required to fully comply with the terms of this policy for any position they may seek
in the future. Grandfathering is non-transferable and the incumbent will lose this status
when he/she no longer holds the position.
Approved by CBRM Council: February 28, 1998
Amended by CBRM Council: March 6,2018