Mission Fire Rescue Service (MFRS) is looking for some new recruits.
Paid, on call firefighters are needed for Station 1 on Seventh Avenue, but more specifically in Station 2 (on Dewdney Trunk Road in the Stave Falls area) and Station 3 (on Silverhill Avenue in the Silverdale area).
“Those are traditionally hard places to capture candidates from,” said Norm MacLeod, assistant fire chief of operations and training.
He added that when they do get new firefighters in the area, it is often difficult to retain them.
“We are looking for people who want to contribute and help the community. It is a paid, on-call position so it includes an hourly stipend.”
MacLeod said MFRS is a composite fire department, made up of career firefighter and on-call firefighters.
Mission currently has eight full-time firefighters but four more will be in place by the end of summer. Ideally, he would like to have about 70 paid on-call firefighters.
MacLeod said while the department is not in “dire straits” for new firefighters, he would like to be a little more secure in the numbers.
The application process is open to almost anybody as long as they are 19 or older and a resident of Mission in any of the three areas.
“Ideal candidates are those who work in town and are available to leave work to come to calls or leave home at night to come to calls,” said MacLeod.
There is an expectation that successful candidates would be available for at least 20-25 per cent of the calls.
After applying, prospective candidates will take part in a fitness assessment and written evaluations will also be administered.
There is also a six-month training period that accepted candidate need to complete before they begin.
“We’ve had a number of people use the department as a stepping stone to career opportunities elsewhere. Ideally we’d like them to use it as a stepping stone to our department and we’ve had 12 people who have done just that.”
Others just want it as a part-time job.
Anyone who want to apply can come to Station 1 and pick up an application or visit the District of Mission website and follow the fire rescue link to find an online application.
An information session will take place on July 23 from 1-3 p.m. at Firehall 1, on Seventh Ave., for potential candidates to ask any questions they may have.