Fall 2025 Intake: Apr. 1 – Jul. 15, 2025

Spring 2026 Intake: Sept.15 – Dec. 15, 2025

The Yellowhead County Fire Department Firefighter (YCFD) Work Experience Program (WEP) has been designed to give graduates from an accredited fire school, within the last 24 months, the opportunity to gain firefighting experience that will help move them toward a career firefighting position.

Each WEP firefighter will spend a year working with YCFD membership between the two Full-time staffed fire stations.  Station 10 is located in Evansburg, and Station 12 is located near Edson.   living and working as a Firefighter. YCFD will supply the WEP firefighters with in-house accommodation (a taxable benefit) as well as an hourly wage paid to WEP Firefighters for scheduled shifts, this will give WEPs the year to immerse themselves fully into the YCFD Fire service.  Currently, the scheduled shifts at Station 10 and 12 are 0700 hours – 1900 hours and shift rotation of 4 days on and 4 days off.

YCFD is a composite department made up of 22 Full-Time staff and a variety of Casual and Volunteer Firefighters. All YCFD Firefighters provide emergency response within the large area of Yellowhead County from the 7 stations across the County.

The successful WEP will have a year with YCFD which includes a dynamic range of calls.  YCFD works with each WEP to build career skills and are mentored by our experienced Firefighters through training and shift routines.  This repetitious routine in training will help the WEP Firefighters use and build upon skills acquired during their training obtained at the fire academy program. WEP firefighters will also be able to join the Paid On-Call Volunteers outside of their shift rotation, which will provide additional experience and training opportunities.

This helps each WEP enhance, build new and maintain skills for their future career in Emergency Response.

• Position Details

   

  

  WEP firefighters are remunerated at the rate of $26.86/hr. + 4% holiday pay for hours worked in 4-days-On and 4-days-Off rotation working 12 hour shifts, this is paid out every 2 weeks.

  There will be the opportunity to complete accredited certification programs, enhanced training and education for career development offered to the WEP. The program also offers mentorship and personal development including resume writing and interview techniques.

  YCFD covers an area of 22,000 square km responding to a variety of fire and rescue related incidents. YCFD call volume each year ranges from 550-600 incidents.

  Being a WEP Firefighter provides knowledge and experience that fire departments will be looking for in a new recruit’s application.

  WEP firefighters are placed on a platoon where they join existing fulltime staff in a scheduled rotation covering Yellowhead County 7 days a week. In the WEPs off hours there will be opportunities to attend incidents and functions as a Paid On-Call Volunteer firefighter.

  The Work Experience Program offers a 12-month term, with daily duties balanced between but not limited to fire suppression, technical rescue, medical first response, fire prevention, public education, preplanning, maintenance of equipment and the fire station, as well as participation in community events throughout the year. As part of the program, WEP firefighters will be asked to volunteer within the community, in schools and during community events as they occur.

• Why the YCFD Work Experience Program?

  A career in the fire service is exciting, challenging, diverse and fulfilling.

  It truly is the “BEST JOB IN THE WORLD”, which is within one of the most competitive job markets. Those who aspire to become a career firefighter are unique individuals that thrive on teamwork, helping others and contributing to their community.

  Large career departments receive thousands of applications of aspiring firefighters, and in most of the cases, these applications lack any job-related work experience. There also becomes a gap between graduating from a fire academy and application intakes that let your skills diminish.

  Our program is designed to give fire academy graduates some additional training and experience working as a full-time firefighter. This experience builds not only additional firefighting skills but provides life skills that become crucial to being able to present yourself as the best candidate during the interview stages.

  

  You get to work full time as a firefighter, perform daily shift routines, live at the fire station and have an opportunity to respond to approximately 550-600 emergency incidents per year.

  WEP firefighters will be given the opportunity to have physical and nutritional training that builds habits that become important in obtain a career in the fire service. Career fire services strive to find the “Best of the Best” firefighters and they place heavy emphasis on lifestyles and having a healthy work force.

  As a WEP, you will have an edge on the competition in the recruiting process when you begin applying for career positions. Recruiters in other large centers, such as Vancouver Fire Rescue, have emphasized the value of having candidates who can show relevant experience and demonstrate their commitment to the fire service.

  The combination of obtaining work experience and personal development through the program will assist you in becoming a noticed candidate during recruitment processes. By giving you the confidence in being able to sell yourself as the best candidate to the hiring organization or department.

• Requirements & Assets

  ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS (required at the time of application):

  Accredited Fire Program Graduate (within past 24 months);

  ·         Age 18 and older.

  ·         Current 5-year Driver’s Abstract completed within the past 6 months.

  ·         Commit to the 12-month duration of the Work Experience Program. Individuals hired by a career department during this Program will be relieved of this commitment.

  ·         Completed Medical Checklist (within application);

  ·         Cover Letter that must include information not provided in your resume, We want to know your passions, goals, interests, and why you want to be a part of the YCFD WEP.

  ·         Detailed resume with all applicable certifications attached.

  ·         Written character references (minimum 2).

  ·         Existing Copies obtained in the last 24 months of the following (if available):

  ·         Doctor’s Medical Clearance; and

  ·         Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector.

  *Successful Candidates will be required to produce updated versions of both upon selection*

  ·         This program requires a Physician’s Report which covers the NFPA requirements as outlined within the application. Successful applicants will be required to obtain a Physician’s Report as a contingent of employment.

  ITEMS CONSIDERED ASSETS (but are not required)

  • Advanced First Aid Training
  • Previous firefighting experience or other related work or volunteering
  • Class 1 or 3 Driver’s License
  • Air-Brake Endorsement
  • Post-Secondary Degree(s) or Diploma(s) (provide copies)
  • Technical, Trades or equivalent level of certification (provide copies)
  • Considerable Mechanical Aptitude

• Application & Submission Details

  The YCFD WEP is open for applications.

  Application Deadlines:
  2025/2026 WEP Application Period: April 1 to July 15, 2025
  2025/2026 WEP Application Period: September 15 to December 15, 2025

  Please indicate in your application whether you are interested in future intakes, dependent on the success of your application. Your application will be held for 12 months.

  Download PDF Application Form

  To Apply:

  PREFERRED AND REQUESTED SUBMISSION METHOD:

  1. Email your application to ycfdadmin@yhcounty.ca 
  2. Use the subject line YCFD WEP 2024 Application [Your LAST NAME, FIRST NAME].
  3. Please attach WEP Application, Cover Letter, Resume, and all Applicable Certificates outlined in the WEP application.

   

  OR

  2. IF SUBMITTING ELECTRONICALLY IS NOT POSSIBLE:
     Return to attention of:
     Work Experience Program Head Quarters Staff
     Yellowhead County Fire Dept.
     2716 1 Avenue, Edson, AB T7E 1N9
     ALL INFORMATION MUST BE ATTACHED AS REQUESTED ON PAGE 1 OR YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

   

  There may be times throughout the year that WEP applicants may be reviewed to fill temporary term positions in the Work Experience Program

  We thank every applicant for their interest in the Yellowhead County Work Experience Program – only successful applicants will be contacted

• WEP Intake Dates & Timelines

   Fall 2025 Intake Dates

  • April 1 to July 15, 2025: Application Submission Period
  • July 15 to August 31, 2025: Review and Interview successful WEP applications
  • Early September 2025: Job offer for successful candidates.
  • October 2025: Tentative start date.

   

   Spring 2026 Intake Dates

  • Application Submission Period: September 15 to December 15, 2025
  • Review and Interview successful WEP applications: December 15 to mid-January, 2026
  • Job offer for successful candidates: Early February 2026
  • Tentative start date: March 26