Chatham-Kent Firefighter Recruitment 2026 – Firefighter Jobs in Ontario

🚒 Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue is recruiting firefighters for permanent full-time positions.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is hiring three (3) Permanent Full-Time Firefighters with Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue. This is an opportunity to pursue a rewarding career protecting lives, property and the community while responding to a wide range of emergency incidents.

📍 Location: Fire Station 1, Chatham, Ontario
👨‍🚒 Positions: 3
💼 Job Type: Permanent Full-Time
⏰ Hours: 42 hours per week
💰 Salary: $77,874 annually, plus benefits following successful completion of the 90-day probationary period
📅 Application Deadline: September 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST
🏛️ Union: Chatham-Kent Professional Firefighter’s Association (CKPFFA)

The Municipality may also establish a two-year eligibility list of qualified candidates to fill future probationary firefighter vacancies as they arise.

🔥 Chatham-Kent Firefighter Job Description

A career with Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue is challenging and rewarding and requires a strong commitment to public service, teamwork and professional development.

Firefighters respond to emergency calls involving:

• 🔥 Structure and other fire emergencies
• 🚑 Medical emergencies
• 🚗 Motor vehicle emergencies
• 🛟 Specialized rescue incidents
• 🏠 Public assistance calls
• 🧯 Fire prevention and public safety activities

Firefighters are responsible for performing rescues, protecting life and property, protecting the environment, stabilizing emergency scenes and providing patient care when required.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Public fire safety education
• Fire inspections
• Fire investigations
• Pre-emergency planning
• Extensive training
• Fire apparatus maintenance
• Firefighting equipment maintenance
• Fire station maintenance
• Maintaining required certifications and competencies

🧯 Chatham-Kent Firefighter Qualifications

Applicants must meet the following essential qualifications:

Required Qualifications

✅ Be over 18 years of age and legally entitled to work in Canada.

✅ Be able to understand and communicate clearly in oral and written English.

✅ Possess a secondary school graduation diploma/certificate or Ontario Ministry of Education equivalency.

✅ Possess a valid Standard First Aid Certificate and CPR Basic Rescuer Certificate (Level C).

✅ Possess NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and Level II accredited certification.

The posting also recognizes candidates who are employed or previously employed as career or volunteer firefighters and are grandfathered to NFPA 1001 Level I and II.

🚒 Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO) Testing

Candidates must successfully complete the required Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO) assessments, including:

• Medical Assessment
• Clinical Assessment
• Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
• Acrophobia Test
• Aptitude Examination
• 15-minute Tread Water Test
• Emotional Stability and Resiliency Assessment

The required testing must be completed according to the deadlines established in the recruitment process.

⭐ Preferred Firefighter Qualifications

The following qualifications and experience are considered assets:

• 🎓 Post-secondary education in firefighting
• 🛠️ Skilled trades education or experience
• 🏗️ Construction experience
• 🚑 Medical experience
• 🧯 Technical rescue training
• 👨‍🚒 Professional firefighting experience
• 👨‍🚒 Volunteer firefighter experience
• 🚑 Paramedic or emergency services experience
• 🎖️ Military experience
• 🤝 Community involvement
• ❤️ Volunteer experience

🚒 Firefighter Responsibilities

Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue firefighters are expected to:

• Maintain physical fitness and required certifications.
• Respond to emergency calls and perform rescues.
• Protect life, property and the environment.
• Stabilize emergency scenes.
• Provide patient care when required.
• Provide public assistance.
• Educate the public about fire prevention and public safety.
• Assist with fire inspections and investigations.
• Maintain fire apparatus, equipment and stations.
• Participate in extensive training.
• Develop pre-emergency plans.
• Work effectively as part of a professional firefighting team.
• Follow written and verbal instructions.

⏰ Chatham-Kent Firefighter Schedule

Firefighters work 24-hour shifts, averaging 42 hours per week over a four-week period.

The position requires firefighters to work both indoors and outdoors and to be prepared for physically demanding emergency response situations.

💪 Physical Requirements

Applicants must be physically capable of handling the sustained and intense physical effort required of a professional firefighter.

The posting identifies physical demands involving:

• Lifting equipment and objects up to 34.1 kg
• Carrying equipment and victims
• Pushing equipment and other objects
• Pulling or dragging equipment and victims
• Frequent gripping and handling of firefighting tools
• Climbing ladders and maneuvering around apparatus
• Reaching for equipment and victims

🚗 Driver’s Licence Requirements

Applicants must possess a valid Ontario driver’s licence with a minimum Class D with Z endorsement, or an equivalent licence from another province.

The required driver’s abstract must:

• Be an original document
• Be current within 30 days
• Have no more than four demerit points
• Have no more than two convictions for the same offence
• Have no Criminal Code convictions
• Have no non-medical or administrative licence suspension within the preceding three years

👮 Background Check

Successful candidates must complete a background check before starting employment.

This may include:

• Education and certification verification
• Employment reference checks
• Police Information Search
• Vulnerable Sector Check

💰 Chatham-Kent Firefighter Salary & Benefits

The permanent full-time firefighter position offers an annual salary of $77,874, according to the Chatham-Kent Professional Firefighters’ Association collective agreement.

Benefits are provided following successful completion of the 90-day probationary period and include a comprehensive benefits package with long-term disability and extended health coverage.

📅 Chatham-Kent Firefighter Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted through the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s online recruitment portal by:

September 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST

Applications must be complete when submitted. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Applicants will first be screened based on the information provided in their application, including responses to required application questions.

Only candidates selected to advance will be contacted regarding FSO testing. Applicants should not schedule FSO testing unless contacted by Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue.

🧯 FSO Testing Deadline

Candidates selected to proceed to testing will be directed to Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO).

FSO testing must be completed by:

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Candidates are responsible for transportation and FSO screening costs.

📋 Already Completed FSO Testing?

Candidates who successfully completed the core four FSO tests in one day — Clinical, CPAT, Tread Water and Aptitude — on or after October 25, 2025, may only need to complete assessments that have expired, including the Clinical, Medical, Acrophobia and/or Emotional Stability and Resiliency assessments.

Candidates should contact Firefighter Services of Ontario to confirm their eligibility.

🚒 Who Should Apply?

This Chatham-Kent firefighter recruitment may be particularly suitable for candidates with experience in:

🔥 Firefighting
🚒 Volunteer Firefighting
🚑 Emergency Medical Services
🎖️ Military
🛠️ Skilled Trades
🏗️ Construction
🚜 Heavy Equipment
🧯 Technical Rescue
🤝 Community Service
❤️ Volunteer Organizations

Candidates should demonstrate professionalism, teamwork, strong communication, physical readiness, problem-solving ability and a commitment to serving the community.

🔥 Apply for Chatham-Kent Firefighter Jobs

If you’re pursuing a career as a firefighter in Ontario, the Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue recruitment provides an opportunity to join a professional emergency services organization.

Make sure you meet all mandatory qualifications and carefully review the application and FSO testing requirements before applying.

📅 Application Deadline: September 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST

🚒 Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue – Protecting lives, property and the community.