Who We Are

Our organisation seeks intelligent, fit, community-minded people from all backgrounds who are looking for a unique challenge. To be a successful firefighter, you need a wide range of skills, knowledge and abilities. ACT Fire & Rescue firefighters are ACT Public Sector (ACTPS) employees and we seek to employ people who reflect our professionalism and values, along with the diversity of our society.

A successful recruit will have the following skills and attributes:

• Personal resilience and an ability to work effectively in challenging situations.
• Appreciation of the need to critically evaluate risk and adhere to safe work practices in
  situations that at times can be inherently dangerous.
• Effective and appropriate written and verbal communication skills.
• A commitment to service and help others, and an interest and ability to engage with members of the public.
• The ability to work shiftwork including nights, weekends and public holidays, flexibility in work
  locations within the ACT and an interest in ongoing development.
• The ability to demonstrate respect toward your colleagues, the community and all others, regardless
  of individual differences.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and the capacity to work within, and contribute positively
  to, a small team working in close proximity.
• The ability to exercise self discipline and use sound judgement in ensuring assigned tasks are
  completed to required standards and within tight timeframes.
• A capacity to acquire new skills and demonstrated problem solving abilities.

The environments firefighters are required to work in include:

• Working at heights
• Working in enclosed spaces
• Working outdoors
• Getting wet during your work
• Working in situations where you may see seriously injured people and/or fatalities
• Working with a diverse range of people e.g. different ages, ethnic backgrounds etc.
• Getting hot/cold whilst working
• Carrying and operating equipment
• Working 10 or 14 hour shifts

ACT Fire & Rescue may, as part of their duties, be required to:

• Respond to Structure Fires
• Respond to Hazardous Materials Incidents
• Respond to Bushfires
• Respond to Chemical, Biological and Radiological Incidents
• Respond to Vehicle Fires
• Assess Fire Engineered Building Solutions
• Undertake Motor Vehicle Accident Rescue
• Ensure Fire Safety Compliance in Buildings
• Undertake Confined Space Rescue
• Conduct Fire Hazard Inspections
• Undertake Trench Rescue
• Provide Community Education
• Respond to Building Collapses
• Provide Emergency Medical Assistance
• Undertake Animal Rescues
• Coordinate Community Fire Units
• Conduct Fire Investigations
• Conduct Community Events Planning
• Provide Storm Damage Assistance
• Conduct Community Safety Planning
• Respond to Automatic Fire Alarms
• Provide Communications Support to Emergency Agencies
• Provide Assistance at Community events and to Community organisations

The Badge of ACT Fire & Rescue

The Torch - represents the tradition of the Fire Brigade and comes from the earliest Fire Services which were established by the Insurance Companies; The Shield - represents the protection that ACT Fire & Rescue provides to the Community; The Laurel Wreath - represents the courage of the firefighters; and The Coat of Arms - represents the ACT Community.

Pumper

ACTF&R pumpers deliver firefighters and our equipment to emergency incidents. These vehicles also pump water for extinguishing fires.

Aerial Appliance

ACTF&R’s aerial appliance is capable of performing rescues at varying heights and delivering water to fight high-rise fire.

Hazmat

ACTF&R presently has a specialised HAZMAT vehicle capable of responding to and managing hazardous materials, Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR), post-fire atmospheric monitoring and fire fighting support response.

Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) Tankers

ACTF&R currently has both heavy and light Compressed Air Foam (CAFS) tanker units. CAFS units work in tandem with other firefighting appliances and assist in the protection of life and property when responding to bush and grass fires.

CAFS tankers are used extensively for their ability to generate and spread large amounts of sticky foam to areas and buildings at risk from an approaching fire