Passion, commitment run deep in fire service’s ranks

January 14, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilo
Passion and commitment to the community run deep within the ranks of the King Fire & Emergency Services.
The municipality, and its most precious commodity – its residents – are well served by the large volunteer team of firefighters, some considered the cream of the crop in this part of the province.
Fire chief James Wall is looking for a few good men and women to join the ranks, adding even more depth to this well oiled service.
The department operates with five full-time staff and 126 volunteers, with 42 staff per station. While that may seem impressive, the service requires such numbers given the municipality’s size and distances covered. They serve 333 square kilometres of King and beyond. Wall said with some rural calls, it’s common to respond with three vehicles and two dozen personnel.
And given the manpower and local involvement, the response times for the three stations is quite good.
Wall said the department has been very fortunate to have such a good relationship with council, Township staff and CAO Susan Plamondon, who fully understand their needs.
The new 100-foot ladder truck is an example. Partially paid for through development charges, the vehicle enables firefighters to reach any building in the municipality.
The call volume is very dynamic and includes motor vehicle collisions, medical calls, carbon monoxide related calls and of course, fires.
Given the challenges of this municipality, Wall and his team place great emphasis on fire prevention and educating residents on safe fire habits.
The Schomberg resident, who’s in his 30th year of fire service, said his people simply “love serving King.”
Many of the volunteers have lived here and grown up locally. In fact, many know the people they end up helping in time of need.
And that commitment to our neighbours is ingrained in the community.
Firefighters are paid for their time, but many don’t do it for the money – they simply want to be involved.
The skills of newcomers to the service are reviewed to determine their strengths. Wall noted these days there are many pre-service programs that are drawing young people hoping to make a career out of firefighting.
A lot of their volunteers do have aspirations to become firefighters. Others are shift workers and some are just community-minded, long-term residents, eager to pitch in and help out.
The service also places a lot of emphasis on training, which is vast and never-ending. Even the chief admits he never stops learning. The reason for this is firefighters have to draw upon a “gigantic tool box” of skills and experiences to do their job.
Wall said he’s hoping to bring all aspects of the service to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. This is applied universally and consistently across all firefighting organizations, so skills, techniques and rules learned elsewhere apply everywhere.
To fill the need, the service is holding a recruitment and an open house to welcome new applicants.
As a volunteer fire fighter serving the Township of King, candidates will be required to respond to these types of emergency situations. Other responsibilities and duties include, yet not limited to, the routine maintenance of fire fighting apparatus and equipment, maintaining fire department facilities, attending regular scheduled training sessions, and participating in local public education events. Those applying must be capable of functioning collectively as part of a team and under adverse conditions.
Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria upon submitting their application:
• Must be over the age of 18; must currently reside within 8 kilometres of any of the three fire stations; must currently be free and clear of a Criminal Record for which a pardon has not been granted (Police Criminal Records Check (PCRC) by York Regional Police); must have a valid Ontario Driver’s License (and insurance) and must undergo a police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) through York Regional Police.
Preferred Candidates will be available for emergency response between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.; currently possess a Valid Class “D” Licence with “Z” Endorsement and have current First Aid/CPR/Defibrillation from a recognized institution or provider.
King Fire & Emergency Services will be hosting an open house and information session on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Nobleton station on King Road, starting at 10 a.m.
For more information, or to pick up an application, please contact James Arnold. Deputy Fire Chief, at 905-833-2800. Applications are available at the King City station, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Applications will be accepted in person at Station 34 in King City until Friday, March 6 at 4:30 p.m.