Kingston Fire and Rescue holding a recruitment drive

Volunteer firefighters are needed especially in rural areas of the city.

Kingston Fire and Rescue are looking for new volunteer firefighters.

They are currently holding a recruitment drive where candidates will be trained and certified by staff.

Assistant Deputy Fire Chief James Carscallen says it is open to anyone who is physically fit and is interested in something challenging. 

Kingston Fire and Rescue personnel is made up of volunteer and paid firefighters assigned to one of 10 stations across the city.

Carscallen says they are particularly interested in residents who live in rural areas or in the east end of the city.

Volunteer firefighters will receive six months of extensive training that will run between October and April with a break for Christmas. They will be equipped, certified, and ready to serve their community upon completion.?  

Carscallen says candidates do not have to have previous firefighting experience to join.

Not every call a firefighter gets involves a fire. They also attend to calls for rescue, medical?assistance, hazardous materials, and activated alarms.

Volunteers will also assist in the operations of the fire department including maintaining equipment, promoting fire safety programs, and undergo other training sessions.

Anyone interested can attend an orientation session at the Joyceville fire station on Joyceville Rd Monday August 31 and Thursday September 3 both days from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Story by Ken Hashizume