fire department

• Organization
• Training Required
• Equipment
• Fire Prevention
• Application Process

Forms
• Apply
• Inspection Request

Organization

Gander Fire Rescue is a composite (career & volunteer) Department under the direction of a volunteer Fire Chief, providing fire and rescue services to the Town of Gander, CFB Gander, and surrounding area. Gander International Airport and surrounding communities are also serviced on the basis of mutual aid agreements. Three Chief Officers and four ten-person crews, each with a Captain and Lieutenant, make up the response aspect of the Department.

Career Firefighters and the Fire Inspector join Volunteers who constitute 90% of the firefighting force. Volunteers must be a full-time resident of Gander, a minimum of 18 years of age, have a valid driver's license and vehicle, pass a pre-admission medical, and are also required to have a criminal records check completed prior to admission.

Volunteers can expect to be actively participating in a comprehensive training program which will challenge them both mentally and physically. He or she can gain excellent skills in various aspects of emergency response, experience teamwork at its best, enjoy the social benefits of the organization, and gain great personal satisfaction in helping to protect and save both lives and property in their community.

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Training Required

Volunteers with Gander Fire Rescue are required to attend a minimum number of training periods, which are reviewed quarterly. Regular training is scheduled on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Each member is expected to attend 12 training periods each quarter, or 50% of the scheduled time. As a Firefighter gains experience and seniority, this time requirement is lowered.

In addition to the time scheduled throughout the week, various training opportunities are presented on weekends, such as emergency medical care, vehicle extrication courses, or pump operator courses.

The Department conducts its training based on the International Fire Service Training Association curriculum, which has been accepted by the Province under the equivalency program for certification of Firefighters.

Firefighters are all First Aid and CPR trained, and most have an opportunity to receive oxygen therapy, specialized driver training, driver's license upgrades, transportation of dangerous goods, and other specialized training programs through the Department. The time commitment over and above the minimums are at the discretion of the Firefighter; however, the benefits of this training can extend into both the personal and employment needs of the Volunteer.

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Equipment

The J. W. Robertson Fire Station, located at 60 Elizabeth Drive, houses the majority of the Department's fleet in a four bay garage. This Station also houses the Administrative Offices of the Fire Chief & Fire Inspector, communications room, training/social room, kitchen, breathing air compressor/SCBA repair room, and equipment repair/storage areas. Facilities are provided for the career staff and Volunteers. An assortment of exercise equipment was also provided as a cost shared project between the Town and the Firefighters.

The Communications Room contains the fire phones, alarm monitoring panel, military alarm monitoring panel, emergency elevator telephones, as well as multi-channel radio system connecting the Department to Municipal Works, Police, Ambulance, other fire agencies, as well as the Firefighter call-out pager/telephone system. Direct lines connect the Department to the Hospital Emergency Department. Events are recorded on a dual deck Dictaphone computerized recording system, and in the event of a power failure, the building is pre-wired and connected to a gas powered generator system. The Department also monitors critical pump and lift stations for the municipality, as well as being the after hours Call Centre for the Town of Gander.

Click here to see and learn more about our fleet

Applicants are required to authorize a criminal records check through the RCMP by signing the
Release Form.