Skills and Training
Fire/rescue services workers enroll in a wide range of education
and training programs delivered both within and outside Saskatchewan.
In the province, training is provided by the training divisions
of fire departments, equipment sales agents, industry trainers,
private consultants and government agencies such as Saskatchewan
Environment.
Out-of-province training providers include universities, colleges,
training firms and private consultants. Current and aspiring
firefighters have attended programs in Alberta (Alberta Fire
Training School) and Manitoba (Manitoba Emergency Services College).
While not all fire departments require pre-employment training
as a prerequisite, such training is becoming the standard ticket
for employment as a firefighter.
There are two levels of professional certification for firefighters.
The first level is provincial recognition of training and a
certificate of achievement, issued by the Office of the Fire
Commissioner through a recognized Fire Service Instructor. The
second level is nationally and internationally recognized and
is gained through regional testing programs held by the Office
of the Fire Commissioner.
There are also various professional designations that can be
earned in Saskatchewan, falling under the categories of firefighter
basic skills, firefighter suppression, fire department officer
and firefighter non-suppression.
Want to find out what kind of fire/rescue services education
and training programs are offered in Saskatchewan? Check into
What to Study?to find out what’s available and where.
Skills and knowledge that workers in the industry need include:
Firefighters
- Operate a fire vehicle safely and efficiently
- Control and extinguish fires using manual and power
equipment
- Procedures for safe exit from dangerous areas
- Fight various kinds of fires, including building,
vehicle, industrial, etc.
- Incident management system
- Fire behavior
- Ensure proper operation and maintenance of fire-fighting
equipment
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- Application and use of new technologies
- Inform and educate the public about fire prevention
- Administer first aid and other assistance
- Use ladders, water supply, fire streams and hose
- Rescue techniques and strategies
- Ventilation
- Personal protective equipment
- Health and safety hazards
- Extrication (machinery entanglement)
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Fire chiefs and senior officers
- Develop and implement policies and procedures
- Plan, direct and coordinate fire-fighting strategies
- Develop and oversee fire prevention campaigns
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- Direct training of personnel
- Communicate with government, the media and the
public
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Firefighters in specific fields need specialized training. For
example wildland firefighters may need training in chainsaw
safety and operation, heavy equipment management, fire mapping,
forest fire investigation, aviation management, prescribed fire
planning and aerial ignition.
Supervisors in an industrial setting may need training in
emergency response and disaster plans, spill response, transportation
of dangerous goods, risk management and analysis, critical incident
stress management, due diligence, occupational health and safety
regulations and employee training and development.
First Nations firefighters may need training for fighting
both building and wildland fires. The skills they need may encompass
many of the skills mentioned above.
Employers look for workers who are physically strong, fit
and agile, alert, brave and who exercise good judgement. In
addition, firefighters need to be able to communicate and get
along well with others.
