Frequently Asked Questions

Why Fight Fire with Outland? 

• Largest, most professional Forest Fire Fighting contractor in Ontario.
• Transportation to and from the fire.
• Competitive Wage Rates (overtime after 8 hours each day).
• Experienced, dependable Crew Bosses.
• Excellent camp equipment supplied.
• Excellent supply of personal gear on site at wholesale prices such as sleeping bags, rainsuits, personal safety gear and fire retardant suits. Items can be purchased as a payroll deduction. Outland fire fighters, therefore, can wait until an actual call to pick-up their gear. This saves Fire Fighters money if a fire call never happens.

SP-100 Training: When and Where?

Check out our SP-100 training page. Course seats are filling up fast.

What are Type 2 Fire Crews?

Type 2 Fire Fighters are also referred to as “sustained attack” crews. Sustained attack crews are deployed to the fire line immediately after MNR Fire Rangers (Type 1 Fire Fighters) have carried out initial attack suppression methods.

Type 2 crews will work alongside Fire Ranger crews until a fire is declared under control. Normally, at this time Fire Ranger crews leave the fire so they can gear up for deployment to another fire. Sustained attack crews will walk the fire putting out hot spots which could lead to future fire spread. They will also, retrieve all fire equipment such as fire pumps and fire hose that have been utilized in the highly coordinated fire suppression effort.

Qualifications of a Type 2 Fire Fighter

Type 2 Fire Fighters have met the following requirements:

• SP-100 Fire Fighter Training Course
• or Type 2 Fire Fighter Annual Fire Training Maintenance Program OR S- 100 Recertification to maintain currency
• Emergency First Aid
• Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire Screening including Blood Pressure reading equal to or less than 144/94 mmHg (Par Q)
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods Training
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Training
• Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Training

Outland’s commitment to the Ontario contract Fire Crew System

Outland is Ontario’s largest supplier of Type 2 Fire Crews. Currently we train and outfit fifty (50) 4-person fire crews for the Ontario fire program. We utilize SP-100 Fire Fighters, S-200 Fire Crew Leaders, and S-300 Fire Bosses from communities across Ontario.

In addition to 150 on-call Type 2 Fire Crews, the MNR hires a maximum of 700 Fire Fighters for its regular operations.

Visit the MNR website at www.mnr.gov.on.ca for more information about Forest Fire Fighting in Ontario.

Who can be a Fire Fighter on an Outland Ontario Fire Fighting crew?

Any person male or female who is 18 years of age or older, who has an average blood pressure 144/94 or better and who completes a Physical Activities Readiness Questionnaire. (See application form for more information)

Outland Fire Crews are well known for being well trained and well equipped for both fire suppression duties and camp life on the fire line. Outland makes available all required fire equipment and safety gear for any Fire Fighter who is not completely outfitted. Any equipment a Fire Fighter may require on short notice is available for purchase from one of our mobile equipment trailers. No cash is required as purchases can be made through payroll deduction.

Should I apply to the MNR or Outland?

Generally, Fire Fighters hope to be hired full-time by the MNR for the months May to August. SP-100 trained individuals who have not been successful being hired by MNR for a Fire Ranger Crew often join Outland’s Fire Fighting team. A call to a fire or two as a Type 2 Fire Fighter will give candidates valuable experience enhancing their chances for employment with the MNR the following year.

What if I get a call to join a Fire Crew?

Type 2 Fire Fighters from across the province get called-up to fight forest fires on Outland crews.

All Outland Fire Fighters must be in a constant state of readiness throughout the Fire Season (May 1 to September 15). Fire Fighters who possess other employment make arrangements with their current employer so that if the call comes, their employers can make required staffing adjustments.

Once Outland receives a call for Fire Fighters, all requested personnel must be at the required location usually within 24 hours. Mobilization locations are typically FMH or Fire Basecamps. Depending on where the fire is, this location could be anywhere in Northern Ontario.

All Outland Fire Fighters will muster at various locations (which will be announced once the mobilization plan is developed). At these central locations, Outland will equip the crewleaders with camp kits and issue fire retardent coveralls and all other personal equipment needed by individual Fire Fighters. Outland will transport all Crews to the designated Fire Management Centre.

Fire Fighters from Southern or Eastern Ontario must proceed to a designated central point to rendezvous with Outland Crews before crews proceed to the MNR fire location.

Other services/employment opportunities within Outland 

Tree planting, brushing/thinning and fire fighting are a natural fit for one another. We provide Fire Fighter training to our workers in April – prior to start up of our other operations. Thus, Outland staff have the ability to have a full season of work in a variety of interesting forestry related jobs.

Depending on education and experience Outland Fire Fighters may be eligible for various positions within our operations.

Currently the list of services we provide is:

• Tree planting (April to August)
• Youth Forestry Summer Training Programs (July and August)
• Pre-commercial thinning/brushing (with brushsaw – May to November)
• Manual Herbicide (August)
• Forest Technician work: Cruising, block assessment, FTG surveys, block layout etc. (January to November)
• Slashpile Burning in Northern Ontario (October to December (sometimes later)) Excellent adjunct to fire fighting work

Outland’s wide variety of work/locations across the country give employees the opportunity to put together long work seasons on various contracts. For example, Fire Fighters may want to plant trees during May and June to ensure a guaranteed income and then stand-by for fire during the summer. Or, Fire Fighters may want to join pre-commercial thinning crew to fill in work between fires. In the event of a major fire flap during silviculture operations, designated Fire Fighters can leave the contract to join a fire crew.

Who do I contact if I have any Questions? 

Email: mailto:fire@outland.ca

For more information on Forest Fire Fighting in Ontario visit www.mnr.gov.on.ca