Ottawa Fire Services

[Guest]

 

How do the Career and Volunteer staff work together? Do they train together often?  I like seeing volunteer staff integrated into a large department as it is not all that common and, if managed properly, could possibly work well.

The rural and career work well together in emergency scenes.  There is some integrated training with volunteers and career, however, there is a defined area where only career units will respond.  Career units will back up volunteer units for serious calls, and on the fringes of the career areas, volunteers will respond as additional units.  Structure incidents get 3 pumps, 1 ladder and a District.  Depending on information, a rescue may also be assigned initially.  If the area is in an un-watered area covered by career, volunteers will staff 4 tankers that will respond.  The system works well for our specific needs.