Now recruiting firefighters
Florence fire department in need of volunteers
A local volunteer fire department is making a push to recruit new volunteer firefighters.
The Florence Volunteer Fire Department is attempting to increase its membership.
“This is one of our first formal recruitments where we’re reaching out and trying to get members,” said deputy chief Adam MacIntyre. “We’ve always been lucky with people just coming and wanting to join on their own.”
The Florence Volunteer Fire Department was first organized in 1961. The department responds to an average of 300 emergency calls each year.
The department has the biggest coverage area within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s Fire Service, which includes the communities of Florence, Bras d’Or, Little Pond, Millville, Alder Point, Point Aconi and Groves Point.
The Florence department currently has 23 members, all of whom are volunteers.
“I think 22 of us work either during the week or shift work, so it’s hard to get a big number around at once,” said MacIntyre. “We’d like to have our membership up to around the 30 mark to make sure we cover all voids that we have.”
Volunteer firefighters must be 19 years or older, have a valid driver’s licence and a clean record.
“No experience is necessary,” said MacIntyre. “We do all our training in-house with co-ordination through the Nova Scotia Firefighters School and CBRM Fire Service.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re big, small or tiny, there are so many different roles within the fire service,” he said. “We have people who do interior attacks only inside burning structures, we have members that will operate trucks only, and people who stay outside doing safety and traffic control.”
MacIntyre said it’s hard to put into words what it’s like helping the community.
“Firefighting is one those things that there’s always a thrill behind it, but it’s the fact that you’re helping the community in so many ways,” he said. “It brings a sense of self-pride to yourself and not just yourself, but the whole community as well.”
The department began the recruiting process about two weeks ago
and as of Tuesday, they hadn’t received any applications, but did have inquiries.
MacIntyre said he isn’t surprised the recruiting process has been difficult.
“It’s harder to get people because a lot of people are leaving and going anyway,” he said. “I think almost every fire department in the CBRM Fire Service is in the same type of boat — hopefully there will be some people that are interested.
“If the curiosity is there or you want to know who’s involved in it or have any questions, come down to the department and have a chat with us — our doors are always open.”
Applicants can submit their resume by emailing MacIntyre at adam.macintyre@emci.ca or Dave Julian at javedulian@hotmail.ca. Resumes can also be dropped off at the department on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m.