best courses to take before applying

[juniorfire]

I am just wondering at 25 is it worth trying to become a paraattack ff in bc with no experience and what courses would be the best or what college would be the best to attend to try and accomplish this particular goal?

[Birdo]

Education makes little difference, especially any specific institution or program. The skills that we look for the most in new recruits to wildland fire are chainsaw experience and Level 3 first aid. Outdoors and bush experience are good too because you will spend a lot of time in the bugs with Parattack. Parattack will sometimes take people with no previous experience but they prefer people with a couple years of wildland fire under their belt.

As far as training goes if you make it through the short list in the application process then you will do the standard week of BCFS training and the real stuff you learn on the job. Parrattack does a couple more weeks of jump training. You sound kind of serious about the job. Wildland fire is not like structural fire in terms of job security. Wildland is seasonal and makes for great job but lousy career. If you didn't apply already then you are too late for this season. Applications come out around October and close mid January of each year.

I think that Tom Reinboldt is still in charge of Parattack in Ft. St. John. The base number up there is 250-785-6349. You might try giving him a call if you have questions or I might be able to answer any general questions for you. I am an Initial Attack crewleader in Prince George and work with Parattack from time to time. Same job, just a slightly different ride to the fire. I used to work next to them up in Ft. St. John as well. "geoffey" on this site used to work in parattack as well. He might chime in too.

[juniorfire]

thank you for the valuable information. the only questions i really have are
1) how much would your pack weigh for fitness training purposes?
2) Would it be valuable if you have previous parachuting experience?
3) What do the men usually do in the off season because it is seasonal?
4) Once you get on a crew do u have to apply every year or do you accquire a type of seniority?

All your info was great thanks

[Birdo]

1.) The standard fitness test is hiking 4.8km in 45min with a 45lb pack. The second part is running 300m carrying 400ft of 1.5" rolled hose and then 200m dragging a charged 1.5" in under 4min10sec. The fit test isn't all that hard. I have done the hose carry/drag at a fast walk before just to make fun of it. My average time is about 2:45 with out working all that hard. Last I heard Parattack still uses a fairly para-military rookie training so you will want to be in decent shape anyway. In Parattack the real fitness test will be tromping around in the muskeg with all of your gear when the plane drops it too far from the fire.

2.) I don't know. I am sure that they will make you do the full rookie jump training anyway. Parattack jumps are static line from about 1500 ft. Not quite the same as normal high altitude rec diving.

3.) All kinds of things. University, second job, travel, EI ski team, etc. Myself, I started when I was in university as the perfect summer Job. Once I graduated I loved the job so I have stayed. Unless you can find a complementary job that you can pick up for the other 7 months then it is hard to keep life flowing. A huge draw of the job are the bonds that you create with your coworkers. I am looking at structural fire now so that I can keep those aspects but adding more security, a more open schedule, and all the other good stuff.

4.) No, once you get hired you are in the union (BCGEU) and get recalled every year. No need to reapply. You will be contacted around February each year to tell you your start date for that season. Exact dates will vary on your schedule, weather, and expected fire risk.

Here is the MOF recruit website if you haven't seen it already.
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/PROTECT/firefighter/

[cdnbacon]

And you must maintain a weight of less than 200lbs for Parattack, if get 190 or higher you get a porkchop letter.

[Birdo]

oh yeah forgot to mention that. All Initial Attack and Parattack crews must be under 200 including boots and hardhat. Rappattack is 170lbs. Anything over 200lbs dressed weight and you are stuck on the ground on a Unit Crew. We are only able to take so much weight in a plane or helicopter. Every pound we use up on a crewmember is a pound less gear we can take, so lighter is better.

[geoffey]

of course of will chime in ........that you jbird??


speaking as a former parattack crew member...i would tell u this

there is only one base in Canada (Fort St. John, BC)....with roughly 20-25 jumpers..they have recently expanded but still remain a very small tight group....which is extremely hard to get into.. unless you are a current BCFS firefighter your chances are worse but they do take guys/girls who are ff's from out of province...only once that i know of have they taken a guy with no experience. and that was b/c he was a) a BCAS paramedic b) friends with one of the crew leaders(who was also a paramedic)

Previous parachutting experience is not necessary, in fact most guys have none...the chutes u jump with are not your typical sport chutes and you will have to be trained all over again anyways so the less bad habits you have to bring the better

Most of the guys from what i remember are really super outdoorsy.. which is no suprises i mean....we're wildland firefighters.....most are big into rock climbing, ice climbing, hiking, kyaking, etc etc.....

yes the wieght issue is true but if you make it thru jump training trust me u'll be 30 lbs lighter than u were going in b/c it is super intense...10x worse than any fire school will ever put u thru....it was the most intense physical training i have ever been thru.... i wanted to die every day...and every day they came up with something new to kick our asses with......some guys with up there with military exp equate it to ROTC....i dont know ive never been in the army...all i know is ground training was brutal.... i bathed in Deep Cold every day

one of my friends is going thru the process right now and im coaching him with whatever i can remember..but yah Tom is still running the show and he said they were adding 12 new jumpers this year....if your in the process now u mite have a good shot(experience pending tho, remember they like to pick from the BCFS ranks)...if not....i dont think they will be taking new guys for a while

hope that info helps....im sure i have lots more info...just cant think of anything right now

[firemonkey]

12 new jumpers, interesting, have they expanded the program fully to chetwynd or another town?

[geoffey]

no they pulled all their jumpers out of chetwynd......all jumpers in FSJ this year

[Birdo]

Just talking to Petrovic, sounds like they are adding 6 IA crews to our FC this year. They are short about 20-30 crewmembers and 10-15 creeleaders. I might actually get more then 2 weekends off this year with the extra help. Have you been studying for the crewleader test this year geoffey?

My personal opinion for you juniorfire is to just try to get on a regular Initial Attack crew. I think that you will enjoy it more in the long run. Parattack sounds romantic but Ft St John sucks, the skeg sucks, and Parattack is very cliquey so you will most likely feel out of the loop for a few years. After you get a better feel for working for the Forest Circus you can always apply to Parattack later if your heart still desires.

[geoffey]

Just talking to Petrovic, sounds like they are adding 6 IA crews to our FC this year. They are short about 20-30 crewmembers and 10-15 creeleaders. I might actually get more then 2 weekends off this year with the extra help. Have you been studying for the crewleader test this year geoffey?

My personal opinion for you juniorfire is to just try to get on a regular Initial Attack crew. I think that you will enjoy it more in the long run. Parattack sounds romantic but Ft St John sucks, the skeg sucks, and Parattack is very cliquey so you will most likely feel out of the loop for a few years. After you get a better feel for working for the Forest Circus you can always apply to Parattack later if your heart still desires.


i second that

[cdnbacon]

Don't listen to them, Unit Crew is the way to go.:p

Hey Birdo how is the weather up there. It better not be like what it is here, I'd like to leave the Island this year.

[juniorfire]

hey fellas thanks for all the info it is great. the only other question i have i guess i what is the best way to get on the short list with no experience and not being from bc ?
yes two strikes against me i know
when does the cut off date for application for initial attack happen.
thanks again

[geoffey]

applications for BCFS run online from Mid November to the end of Jan every year.. this summer you are out of luck as boot camp is starting up in a few weeks and all candidates have been selected for the summer... like Birdo said....try just getting into the BCFS system as a regular crew member..whether it be Helitack or Unit crew.. be in the system then transfer to paraslack later on if thats where u want to be.....

check out this site for recruiting info...

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/Protect/firefighter/

[Birdo]

Hey Birdo how is the weather up there. It better not be like what it is here, I'd like to leave the Island this year.

Couldn't really tell you. I am at the JI in Maple Ridge at the moment. It is miserable down here for the most part, that part I know. I have been told that Prince George isn't all that warm either.

[geoffey]

birdo.....if your down here gimme a shout we'll go do lunch sometime....i live in Coquitlam.......just shoot me an email anytime

geoff

[Birdo]

I graduate on Friday so I will be back up in PG pretty quick. Probably won't have time to hook up. I will see you back up north soon enough though.

Petrovic was trying to find out if you can start earlier or not. Might want to give him a call if you haven't talked to him already.

[geoffey]

finished already...right on congrats! i called mark yesterday...starting normal time APr 30th..still not sure if im coming back tho...

[Birdo]

"Last season, and this time I mean it" kind of quit or are you looking at a spot somewhere else?

[geoffey]

No its the "I have a job with the City of Vancouver now and i dont think i want to give it up because it pays too much and i dont have to leave home "kind of quit

"Last season, and this time I mean it" kind of quit or are you looking at a spot somewhere else?

[jedi]

hey guys I have a few questions about getting a job. i guess im just asking if you guys think i have a good chance?

so before i get to the questions ill tell you some of my qualifications.
I have been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for about 3 years now.
Last summer I work for the Coast Guard in Nootka Sound which is a very remote area.
I have been in St John Ambulance Brigade for about a year.
I worked at YVR for 2 years driving a truck and loading and unloading heavy catering gear.


1) I don't have OFA 3 but I am a member of St John Ambulance Brigade and we have Medical First Responder which is basically the same as OFA 3 just different protocols. Do you think whoever looks at the resumes will notice this or will they just see that I don't have OFA 3?

(I also just got my OFA 1 because I know its a requirement, I just didnt wanna fork out $800 and 70 hrs to learn something i already know.)

2) i can't find any place in the lower mainland to get the S-100 before they start hiring, do you think that is really going to hurt me?

3) im a 23 yr old girl, do you think this will hinder my chances of getting a job? i know you guys will all say blah blah its not sexist, but there is always a bias in peoples minds. i just want an honest answer... i don't care if it doesnt sound politically correct.

anyway i REALLY want to get this job, so if you have any suggestions about anything im all ears! thanks in advance!

sarah

[firemonkey]

You have a good qualifications.

First aid is a biggy, they try to put a OFA 3 on every IA crew and unit crews have one per 5 pack I think. I'm not sure how your Medical First Responder will be recieved by the interviewers. It's a higher level of first aid than level one and that's a plus. Also you have been able to use your first aid, maybe you could work that into the interview.

Most of our training is on the job, S-100 is an asset, Chainsaw course, Transportation endorsment.

Being a girl is not an issue. Age is not an issue. People on the lighter side (130ish or less) sometimes have a tough time with the pump/hose portion of the fitness test. Good cardio is a must have! The job can be demanding at times, but there is alot of down time too.

Know everything on the web site for the interveiw.
http://bcwildfire.ca/Employment/FireFighter/

[jedi]

thanks for your reply i appreciate it.

i was wondering when you say "know everything" for the interview, what exactly do you mean? can you be more specific?

[firemonkey]

Know the types of crews, what wheather stations do, diferent ways fires are started, how we find forest fires, etc. Like any hiring process, knowing everything about organization will help.

Also, If BCFS dosen't work out a summer with a contract crew could set you up a bit better for the following season.

[cdnbacon]

www.bcwildfire.ca (http://www.bcwildfire.ca) is the main site for The Protection Branch. You can find links to what you'll learn at boot camp(which was a question I was asked in the interview).

There's all sorts of links you can find on the site including one for substitutes for first aid courses.

And as your experience goes the Coast Guard and the first aid should be great assets, and driving a truck adds to life experience.

And don't be too worried about the fitness test, I was 130 lbs when I started and have passed it every time. We even have one girl on our crew who was just above 5' and she always did well. Just as long as you do some training you'll pass it easy. Here's a link that can show you how to train for the up coming season http://www.nifc.gov/FireFit/index.htm

Feel free to email me if you have any other questions.