Recent online discussion about Huntsville’s volunteer firefighters has left some residents questioning what the model means for emergency response, and whether relying on volunteers is unusual.
In fact, volunteer firefighters make up the majority of Ontario’s firefighting workforce.
According to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, more than 18,000 of the province’s nearly 31,000 firefighters are volunteers. Of Ontario’s 437 fire departments, 210 are composite departments, meaning they combine career and volunteer firefighters.
Huntsville’s Fire Department currently operates with 50 trained volunteers across two stations, supported by full-time staff.
So, what does being a volunteer firefighter actually mean?
Why does Huntsville have a volunteer fire department?
The Town of Huntsville says its model is consistent with how many municipalities provide fire protection.
“Like most municipalities throughout Ontario and Canada, Huntsville’s fire department is built on the strength of our volunteer firefighters. Huntsville is not an anomaly in this regard,” the town said in response to questions from the Forester.
The department’s volunteer firefighters are supported by full-time staff who are responsible for training, fire prevention and public education.
“This approach enables the town to provide effective fire protection services while balancing service levels and financial sustainability,” the town said.
How do Huntsville’s volunteer firefighters respond to calls?
Unlike firefighters who work regular shifts at a staffed fire hall, Huntsville’s volunteers are not stationed at the fire halls around the clock.
“Volunteer firefighters respond from home, work, or within the community when a call is dispatched,” the town said. “They receive the alert on their pagers and report to their station.”
Once at the station, firefighters assemble a crew and respond to the emergency.
The town said the 50 volunteers across Huntsville’s two stations “provides the staffing depth needed to respond to calls.”
Volunteers do not work set shifts. They respond when they are available and also take part in regular training nights, maintenance nights, courses and public education activities throughout the year.
What training do volunteer firefighters undergo?
Huntsville’s volunteer firefighters are required to complete provincial certification, and the town said all of its firefighters met the requirement that came into effect July 1, 2026.
New recruits complete NFPA Level 1, Level 2 firefighter training and Hazmat Awareness and Operations training.
“The recruit program is rigorous, with just over 250 hours of training in the first 12 months,” the town said.
Firefighters also train to the service levels established in Huntsville’s Establishing and Regulating Bylaw. That includes specialized skills such as auto extrication and water and ice water rescue.
How quickly can volunteers respond to an emergency?
Because Huntsville’s volunteers are not already stationed at the fire hall, they first have to receive the alert, travel to their station and assemble a crew.
The town said response times can vary depending on “call location, weather, time of day, and call volume,” all of which can influence how quickly a crew forms and gets on the road.
Even with those variables, the department works to meet the service levels expected of a volunteer fire service.
Could Huntsville switch to full-time firefighters?
It could, but the town says such a change would require a significant review.
“Any decision to add full-time staffing would be guided by service demands, risk assessments, legislative requirements, and financial considerations,” the town said.
Such a change would ultimately require council consideration and approval through the town’s budget and strategic planning process.
For now, Huntsville continues to operate with a volunteer firefighter model supported by full-time staff.
The key distinction for residents is that “volunteer” refers to how the firefighters are staffed — not to whether they are trained, certified or part of an organized emergency response system.
Huntsville’s volunteers receive hundreds of hours of training as recruits, maintain their skills throughout the year and respond to emergencies from across the community when they are available.
For those interested in volunteering for the Huntsville Fire Department, more information on qualifications and how to apply can be found here.
The fire department accepts applications year-round, with the next firefighter recruitment beginning mid-fall.