Volunteer firefighters are crucial in wildfire battle. Does Canada have enough?
Canadian soldiers and hundreds of firefighters from other countries have joined the fight amid a staffing crunch and recruitment challenges for their ranks.of diminishing numbers of both career and volunteer firefighters across the country.
“Unfortunately, the reality is we may see individuals walk away from their volunteer position after they’ve been on such a prolonged event similar to this one.”The specific qualifications required to become a volunteer firefighter vary by province and territory, but there are some basic requirements for the job.To start off, you must be at least 18 years of age, hold a valid driver’s licence and live in and/or work in the response area.
“You will need to acquire both firefighting skills and attain a certain level of physical fitness that will allow you to do the job,”Their duties include but are not limited to suppressing fires, protecting residents, providing pre-hospital care to victims and educating the public.Volunteer firefighters play a critical role in any wildfire season emergency, giving a much-needed helping hand to permanent staff who have years of training and expertise.
“So, making sure that they’re properly trained is critical and they have the right resources and equipment to ensure they can set up those parameters to protect those homes.” McMullen says Ottawa needs to increase the tax incentive for volunteer firefighters – currently at $3,000 annually, to $10,000 – and reinvest in the joint emergency preparedness plan to help attract new recruits.
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