Burnaby, British Columbia Hiring guide
Burnaby Firefighter Recruitment: Requirements, Salary & Hiring Process
Get ready for Burnaby’s firefighter hiring process, from qualifications and interviews to orientation, physical testing and station ride-alongs.
Department size
8 fire stations
Serving Burnaby
Operations firefighter recruitment
No active postings on our boardBoard listings update from our recruitment dashboard; they may not include every City opening.
Last official-source review: November 3, 2026 · Check current City competitions. This review is separate from board availability.
How to become a Burnaby firefighter
- 1
Check the exact competition
Read the posting alongside the firefighter careers page. Record the closing time, required credentials and all dates you must attend.
- 2
Make your experience easy to assess
Describe your responsibilities, work history and practical skills clearly. Prepare examples of teamwork, safe decisions and dealing with the public.
- 3
Prepare for practical assessment
Train consistently and keep time available for orientation and ride-alongs. Follow medical-clearance instructions before physical testing.
The department at a glance
Burnaby’s firefighter selection process gives the department time to see how you learn, work with a crew and handle practical tasks. Interviews are followed by orientation, physical testing and station experience. Prepare for the whole process, including time away from work for the scheduled activities.
More than firefighting
Burnaby Fire Department serves the city through eight stations. Firefighters respond to fires, rescues, medical calls and hazardous-material incidents, while also maintaining equipment, training, inspecting buildings and teaching fire safety. Learn about the communities around Metrotown, Brentwood and Burnaby Mountain so you can explain why this department interests you.
Pay & working pattern
Fourth-year firefighter — calculated 2026 base · $128,834 per year
Effective January 1, 2026
Calculated base estimate: $58.99/hour × 42 hours/week × 52 = $128,834.16. We converted the 2024 monthly rate ($9,784) using the agreement’s pay formula, then applied the 2025 increase of 5% and 2026 increase of 4.5%, rounding hourly rates to cents at each increase. The same method gives about $90,177 annualized for the first six months. Payroll rounding may differ; overtime, allowances, benefits and deductions are excluded. Both agreements are linked below.
The collective agreement sets an average 42-hour workweek for suppression personnel. Your assigned shifts, training dates and any changes to the schedule are confirmed by the department.
Minimum qualifications
Use the City’s firefighter careers page as your starting point and the competition posting as the final checklist. Requirements can differ between the general page and a particular intake, especially medical credentials and work experience.
- 01Citizenship or permanent status
- The firefighter careers page requires Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status. Do not rely on the broader work-permit wording on the general City careers page.
- 02Education and work experience
- Check the competition for high-school equivalency and required employment history. A reproduced 2026 posting specified high-school graduation or equivalent and two years of work experience.
- 03NFPA 1001 training
- The City lists completion of NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II. Keep your certificates readable and ready for the stage specified in the posting.
- 04Class 3 licence with air brakes
- Have the required BC Class 3 automatic licence without restrictions, air-brake endorsement and a good driving record. Check the posting for its driving-record threshold and document timing.
- 05Medical-response credential
- The general firefighter page lists a current EMA first-responder or EMR credential. A reproduced 2026 posting placed first-responder certification under preferred qualifications. Confirm the specific intake requirement with People and Culture if the wording differs.
- 06Background and physical suitability
- Be ready for criminal-record screening, medical testing and Burnaby’s physical assessment. Submit the required medical clearance before the orientation/testing stage.
What strengthens your application
These qualifications appear on Burnaby’s careers page as assets. Show how you have used the skills, rather than listing certificates without context.
Practical work and education
Trades, building construction, mechanical work, heavy-equipment experience, post-secondary study or an apprenticeship can help demonstrate relevant skills.
First aid and watercraft knowledge
Higher-level first aid experience and a Pleasure Craft Operator Card appear among the City’s listed assets. Verify what a particular posting requires.
Computer and communication skills
Give examples of using technology accurately, learning procedures and communicating with coworkers or the public under pressure.
Aptitude & physical testing
Burnaby’s published selection stages centre on interviews, orientation and a department physical abilities assessment. The City page does not identify FACT, CPS or BL Associates as a required written test. Check the competition instructions before buying a specific test or assuming outside results will transfer.
Department assessment during orientation
Medical clearance is required before this stage. The City outlines instruction, a walk-through and the assessment within orientation. Use the linked physical-preparation guide and your invitation for the actual tasks, rules and attendance dates. Do not assume CPAT or another department’s certificate replaces Burnaby’s assessment.
Prepare real examples and department knowledge
The City lists an initial interview and a later Fire Chief interview. It does not publish an MMI format or a fixed question count on the careers page. Practise concise examples that explain your actions, judgment and what you learned.
Follow City instructions on timing
Criminal-record checks appear at more than one point in the published outline, with medical testing near the final stages. Avoid ordering time-sensitive documents too early. Ask People and Culture about accommodation or unresolved credential questions.
The recruitment process
The City describes the following selection stages. Dates and attendance requirements come from your competition and invitation; the general orientation outline is not a calendar for every intake.
- 1
Online application review
Apply through the City jobs portal and show that you meet the competition requirements.
Keep the confirmation and a copy of your submission.
- 2
Initial interview
Shortlisted applicants meet the hiring panel.
Explain your own contribution in each example and why you want to serve Burnaby.
- 3
Criminal-record screening
The City reviews the requested record check before candidates continue.
Use the instructions provided for your competition.
- 4
Orientation and physical assessment
The general careers page describes eight days covering instruction, a test walk-through, physical testing and station experience.
Actual dates and arrangements come from the intake invitation.
- 5
Ride-alongs and final screening
Station experience allows further assessment of how you learn and work around crews; later checks include medical testing.
Follow the officer’s directions, ask when unsure and respond constructively to feedback.
- 6
Fire Chief interview and recruit training
The published final interview is with the Fire Chief. New hires then complete department recruit training before station assignment.
The careers page describes a nine-week basic recruit course; confirm the schedule in your offer.
Your application checklist
Use this preparation checklist alongside the current posting. Checking an item does not confirm eligibility.
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Common questions
Guidance for Burnaby applicants. Confirm details with the referenced official sources and current posting.
Is Burnaby hiring firefighters now?
Check the City jobs portal for an open competition. The general firefighter careers page describes the process but does not confirm the next intake date. This guide is preparation information, not an active job advertisement.
How much does a Burnaby firefighter earn?
Using the published agreements, the calculated 2026 fourth-year base is approximately $128,834 annually. New recruits start below this level. See the pay section for the hourly calculation and the linked agreements; payroll rounding and additional earnings can affect actual pay.
Does Burnaby require NFPA 1001?
Yes. The firefighter careers page lists NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II training. Follow the posting for accepted certification and when to provide proof.
Does Burnaby use FACT or CPS?
The published City careers page does not identify either test. It lists application review, interviews, record checks, orientation, physical assessment and medical screening. Follow any additional instructions issued for your competition.
Is Burnaby’s physical test the same as CPAT?
Do not assume equivalency. The City requires its own physical abilities assessment during orientation and directs candidates to its preparation guide. An outside result is accepted only if the City says so.
How long is orientation?
The general careers page describes eight days, including instruction, a test walk-through, physical assessment and station experience. Your invitation controls actual dates, grouping and attendance requirements.
What should I do during a ride-along?
Follow the officer-in-charge, respect crew and patient privacy, ask before acting, and use feedback. The City describes this as part of its assessment process, so treat everyday duties as seriously as emergency observations.
How long is recruit training?
Burnaby’s careers page describes a nine-week basic course before assignment to a station. Training covers core firefighting skills, safety and special-operations awareness. Confirm the current program in your offer.
Go straight to the source
Reviewed against official Burnaby sources on November 3, 2026. Requirements, certificate validity and intake dates can change.
Independent guide from Firefighter Academy, not affiliated with the City of Burnaby. The current posting and candidate instructions take priority. Salary figures are base pay before deductions, overtime and allowances.
Your next step
Plan your application to Burnaby Fire Department
Confirm the City’s current requirements and application dates.
Browse recruitment postings