Document name

Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters

Document number

POL 17/2024

Volunteer Firefighter means a volunteer registered with a Saskatchewan municipality for the purpose of fighting fires. Volunteer firefighters are normally unpaid but may receive an honorarium.

1. A member of a municipal volunteer fire brigade is defined as a worker (Section 2(1)(ii)(ii) of The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act)).
2. Volunteers who are not members of a municipal fire brigade are excluded from the provisions of the Act (Section 3(gg) of The Workers’ Compensation Miscellaneous Regulations).
3. POL 16/2024, Injuries – Firefighters, outlines the presumptions for firefighters in relation to cancer and cardiac injuries. The presumptions along with the required periods of service or employment also apply to volunteer firefighters.

1. The WCB has determined that volunteer firefighters sponsored by a Saskatchewan municipality are in the course of employment while performing firefighting duties (Section 20(2)(b) of the Act).

Terms and Conditions

2. Volunteer firefighters must be registered with their respective Saskatchewan municipality.
3. Coverage shall be in effect from the time of notification of a fire, during travel from the firefighter’s residence or location to the site of the fire, during firefighting activities and during return travel. Travel to and from the fire must not include any deviations for personal reasons as coverage may not be in effect if there are travel deviations from the most direct or reasonable route. Coverage is also in effect while attending volunteer firefighter training.
4. Any remuneration, excluding expense reimbursement, over $1000.00 paid to volunteer firefighters by a Saskatchewan municipality to provide firefighting services is to be reported to WCB as assessable earnings.
5. If there is a loss of earnings, the calculation of earnings loss benefits for any claims arising out of the application of this policy will be based on:
   1. All earnings from a volunteer firefighter’s employment in industries covered by the Act,
   2. When there are no covered earnings, the provincial minimum wage for a forty-hour workweek for the first 24 months of demonstrated earnings loss,
   3. When earnings loss benefits have been paid for a period exceeding 24 consecutive months, two-thirds of the average weekly wage as of June in the year immediately preceding the year in which the earnings loss or ability to earn occurs; and,
   4. In the event of a fatality, benefits to the dependent spouse will be based on the provisions under Section 81 of the Act.
6. The costs of claims arising out of the application of this policy are to be applied directly to the cost experience of the respective Saskatchewan municipality that the volunteer firefighter is registered with.