Volunteer Firefighters
Are you passionate about serving your community and interested in being part of a team?
The City of Greater Sudbury is home to a dedicated group of volunteer firefighters committed to safeguarding their local neighbourhoods and the broader community.
Joining our team as a volunteer firefighter offers rewarding experiences and challenges, as you'll be called upon to respond to emergencies and devote significant time to training.
Volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in ensuring community safety, so if you possess strong teamwork abilities, good health, and physical fitness, we encourage you to consider joining us!
Becoming a volunteer firefighter is an opportunity to acquire valuable skills, contribute to your community, and earn additional income.
Become a Volunteer Firefighter
Why Volunteer?
Meet some of our volunteer firefighters and hear what they have to say! Click on a volunteer firefighter to hear why they volunteer.
From top right to bottom left:
Do volunteer firefighters get paid?
Yes, you will get paid for both training and responding to calls. As a probationary firefighter, you will get paid $18.33, and once you pass probation, you will receive $26.19 per hour.
What is the time commitment to being a volunteer firefighter?
The Province of Ontario requires all firefighters to be certified through an NFPA 1001-1, NFPA 1001-2 and NFPA 1002 program. Greater Sudbury Fire Services provides this 320-hour course to all its new volunteer recruits. All recruits are expected to complete this training within the first two years of employment. Recruits will also be required to pass their DZ training which includes two days of in-class training, 30 hours of driving, five hours of testing and practical theory. There are also 10 hours of online learning that all city staff are expected to complete. You would need to commit to attending weekly training and being available for emergency calls. You can review your station's call volume on the Fire Stations page.
What are the benefits to becoming a volunteer firefighter?
- Wellness pass for city leisure facilities, fitness centres, pools, skating etc.
- CRA tax benefit
- Paid training
- DZ licence
- Being part of a team
- Assigned station wear ie. Pants, shirts, boots etc.
How do I know if I'm close enough to a firehall?
The volunteer areas cover Copper Cliff, Waters, Lively, Whitefish, Beaver Lake, Azilda, Chelmsford, Dowling, Levack, Val Caron, Val Therese, Hanmer, Capreol, Garson, Falconbridge, Skead, Coniston and Wahnapitae. The city core is staffed with career firefighters who respond 24/7.
Please review our mapping tool to discover your closest volunteer station.
Which stations need volunteers?
In our recruitment process, we consider candidates for all stations. However, in the event that we receive more applicants than we can accommodate in a single recruitment cycle, priority will be given to stations with fewer volunteer members. If a qualified applicant is not selected due to full capacity at their station, they will be contacted and considered for the subsequent recruitment cycle.
Can current volunteer firefighters help recruit?
Absolutely! During recruitment drives, we provide volunteer stations with posters, recruitment cards, information guides, and suggestions for recruiting volunteers. If you know potential candidates, you can encourage them to apply and attend an open house at one of the hub stations.