Pipeline or Natural Gas Firefighter

[Smitdy6]

Does anyone have any information on firefighting for the pipeline, oil fields or gas companies. I am a few months from completeing Pre-service and looking at different options. Job details, wages, hours etc. would be helpful, as well as opinions whether it is a good move or not.

Thanks

[RESQTEK]

Before getting on my department full time I work 3 years as an oilfield firefighter. You will need a class 3 liscence to work for most of the companies and a class 1 would be an advantage as some have tractor trailer units. You will also need to get your H2S ticket. Most of the companies work on a salary plus bonus system. Typical starting salary is around 2000-2500/month. The bonuses are received on a per job basis(usually around 100-150/job). The bonuses for emergencies are great. There were some instances where I was making $1000/day on a blowout and others where I got a $2500 bonus for a tank fire that only took a few hours to deal with. There are not a lot of emergencies so a large majority of your work will be providing standby fire protection for wellsite jobs such as fracs and cleanouts. You will drive every back road in northern BC, Alberta, and central and southern Saskatchewan going from job to job. It is not always the most exciting but you will take some good training and the experience looks great on a resume. The shift I worked was 20 days on, 5 days off. Some other companies worked 16 and 5. There will be days in the winter months when you will be on a wellsite at 2am starting a job that will finish around 1130am. You will then drive to your next job or hotel which could be across the province. If you have a wife and kids it can be tough on them. Most of the companies are in Red Deer. The better ones are Key safety, safety boss, firemaster, and firepower. Grande Prairie is another hub where most, if not all companies will run out of. As far as whether it is a good move or not, it is largely dependant on your desire and personal situation.(wife,kids,etc) The more experience you have the better your chances are of getting on a department somewhere. If you do decide to take this route, do not mention that your intention is to get on a full time department somewhere. There have been a lot of guys get on departments by taking this route and the companies get a little sour about putting in the time and money to have you leave.(They make too much damn money anyway) There are a lot of guys in that field who think poorly of structural firefighters. This is, in some cases, due to instances where they have arrived at a tank fire or blowout to find the local fire department sitting 2 miles away watching the fire. You will find out quickly however that it does not take a rocket scientist to put out an industrial fire. Infact they are some of the easiest fires I have ever fought. Most of these guys wouldn't last 30 seconds in an interior attack at a structure fire. The best thing to do is close your mouth and open your ears. Provide your knowledge gracefully and the guys will like you. Hope that helps. If you think of any more questions I will do what I can to help.

[Smitdy6]

ResQTek

Thanks for the information. I have seen some ads for FirePower, and got thinking about it. I am going to research it more and If I have any questions, I'll be sure to ask. My ultimate goal is to get on a department though.

Thanks again!

[Soolang7]

I am thinking heavily of Industrial FF. I am currently in the process of FIrefighting Recruit based from the SERT facility in newfoundland. The instructors have said that there are tons of jobs in ALberta Industrial FF. I have pretty much made my mind up. What are the major differences of Industrial to Department?

Have you heard of guys that went from Industrial to Department?
I am 24 and have 20 weeks left on my term.

thanks