Blaze Fire Academy

The Town of Oakville has partnered with Halton Region fire departments - the City of Burlington, and the towns of Milton and Halton Hills - to present this unique opportunity to learn what it’s like to have a career in the fire services.

Blaze Fire Academy is a fire services leadership program for individuals living in Halton Region. Our goal is to provide a fire service introduction and a basic working knowledge to individuals, aged 15 - 18 years, who are interested in the fire service as a career. This program will also include information and experiences related to the following fire service fields: Fire Prevention and Public Education, Training, Fire Investigation, Fire Code enforcement, and Communications.

In 2023, the town held two career camps, one for individuals aged 21 or older with a non-fire service background transitioning into a new career path, and the other for young women ages 15 to 18. The third camp planned for November 2023 was rescheduled to summer 2024. Applications for the 2024 camps close on July 25.

Training offered at Blaze Fire Academy

Topics covered in the camp include: 

• Fire suppression
• Training
• Communications
• Fire prevention
• Fire investigations
• Public education
• Public information and media relations
• Fire Code enforcement

Participants will also have an opportunity to perform many firefighting tasks, including:

• Basic firefighting skills
• Catching fire hydrants
• Managing hose lines
• Personal protective equipment orientation
• Search and rescue operations
• Auto extrication rescues
• Use of aerial and ground ladders
• Forcible entry procedures

Qualifications

To qualify, you must be:

• a resident of Halton Region currently attending a high school in the Region of Halton (Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills or Burlington)
• in good physical condition and have a positive attitude
• in possession of a valid provincial health card
• able to supply your own CSA safety footwear (all other personal protective equipment will be supplied to the participants)
• able to provide you own transportation to and from the Oakville Fire Department Training Campus for Emergency Excellence (1144 South Service Road West)
• committed to attend all Blaze Fire Academy activities