City Guides / British Columbia

How to become a firefighter in Squamish

Verified GuideModel A: We train you

Where are you starting from?

What you need

The credentials and documents Squamish requires before you can apply.

How hiring works here

Every stage Squamish publishes, and how to do each one well.

Build your plan

Two minutes: see which requirements you already meet, and what to start first.

At a glance

Entry model: Model A: We train you
Fire certification before applying: None listed before applying
Medical requirement: None listed
Driver requirement: None listed
Written test: None published
Physical test: None published
Last verified: July 2026 · sources monitored daily for changes

A summary of this record. The full detail is below, and the official posting governs.

Squamish recruits paid-on-call firefighters and publishes its recruitment requirements: applicants must be a permanent resident of Squamish at the time of application, be 19 years of age, and submit a driver's abstract and a criminal record check. Recruits make a three-year commitment and attend a six-month training program two days per week with 100 percent attendance required. No fire certification is needed before applying; the department provides NFPA 1001 training, the Red Cross Emergency Medical Assistant First Responder course, live fire training, Wildland 1, emergency scene traffic control, and ICS 100 at no cost.

Entry-level hiring with no fire certifications required. The department trains recruits in-house. Medical certifications and driver licensing are the differentiators.

Requirements

Required at application

Permanent resident of Squamish
Must be a permanent resident of Squamish at the time of application.
Prepare with roadmap step 2
19 years of age
Prepare with roadmap step 2
Driver's abstract and criminal record check
Both must be submitted to be considered for a position.
Prepare with roadmap step 7
Three-year personal commitment to Squamish Fire Rescue
Prepare with roadmap step 2

Required before hire

Full attendance at the recruit training program
The training program runs two days per week for six months, and 100 percent attendance is required.

The hiring process

You do not need any fire certification to apply. Squamish Fire Rescue is a composite department that trains its paid-on-call recruits from scratch, so the application is about eligibility and commitment, not credentials.
Check the two hard eligibility rules first: you must be a permanent resident of Squamish at the time of application, and you must be 19 years of age. You must also submit a driver's abstract and a criminal record check, and the department states both are required to be considered, so order them early rather than after you apply.
Applications go in online through the link on the recruitment page, and the department posts a set intake window. The current posting opens Monday, August 17 at 8:30 a.m. and closes Friday, September 4 at 4:30 p.m., so confirm the live dates on the page and do not leave it to the last day.
Before you submit, be honest with yourself about the commitment you are signing up for: a three-year personal commitment to Squamish Fire Rescue, starting with training two days per week for six months where 100 percent attendance is required. Strong applicants have already checked their work and family schedule against that load.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 7 Review your Gap List Certification tracker
The recruit program runs two days per week for six months, and the department is explicit that 100 percent attendance is required. Treat that as an absolute rule: block every training day off before the program starts, and flag any known conflict to the department before you accept a spot.
The program covers NFPA 1001, the Red Cross Emergency Medical Assistant First Responder course, live fire training, Wildland 1, emergency scene traffic control, and ICS 100. There is no cost to the student; all training and materials are provided as part of your three-year commitment to Squamish Fire Rescue.
Squamish does not publish a fitness test, but live fire training and firefighting skills work are physically demanding. Build a base of cardio and general strength before the program begins so fatigue does not cost you learning time.
Come to each session ready to be a good student: arrive early, review the previous session's material, and ask questions when you are unsure. Consistency over six months matters more than being the strongest recruit on day one.
Department source for this stage
Read roadmap step 14 Academy preparation guide Start a fitness program

Worth knowing

The published recruitment stream is for paid-on-call firefighters in this composite department; training is provided at no cost, so no fire certification is needed before applying.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate a positive and inquisitive attitude, adherence to safe operating procedures, and punctuality and conscientiousness as a student.

Official sources

Last verified July 2026. Requirements change: the official posting always governs.

District of Squamish, Fire Rescue Recruitment

Semparo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Squamish Fire Rescue or any testing vendor. This guide is independent preparation content.

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