Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters
PRO 29/2025

Effective date: August 1, 2025

Application: Applies to volunteer firefighters, including wildland firefighters from Saskatchewan municipalities and mutual aid areas.

Policy subject: Employer coverage and registration

Purpose:

To provide guidelines for injuries to volunteer firefighters.

BACKGROUND

POL 29/2025, Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters, outlines when Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage can be extended to volunteer firefighters, including wildland firefighters.

PROCEDURE

  1. The respective Saskatchewan municipality or mutual aid area is designated as the “employer”. The employer will be responsible for maintaining records of volunteer firefighters, including wildland firefighters, participating in emergency situations and training and will also be responsible for reporting all injuries to the WCB.
  2. The respective Saskatchewan municipality or mutual aid area is responsible for reporting all injuries to the WCB and supporting workers in their rehabilitation and return to work.
  3. In the event of a reported incident or injury, the WCB will verify with the respective Saskatchewan municipality or mutual aid area that the worker is recorded as a volunteer firefighter with their municipality or mutual aid area.
  4. The injury claim will be adjudicated and managed as any other injury claim in determining the extent of disability, monitoring of medical treatment, determining fitness for employment (pre-injury or suitable) and determining post-injury earnings capacity.
  5. When the injury claim is in relation to a presumptive cancer listed in The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act), Operations staff will review to determine whether the worker’s period of service or employment meets the prescribed minimum period of service (see POL 28/2025, Injuries – Firefighters). If the minimum period of service or employment has not been met, Operations staff will adjudicate the claim on its merits.
  6. Claims for firefighters diagnosed with cancer will be managed by the Extended Services team who will provide support services to the worker.

Policy references

Legislative Authority

The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013
Sections 2(1)(ii)(ii), 20(2)(b), 27, 28(1), 81
The Workers’ Compensation Miscellaneous Regulations
Section 3(gg)

Document History

  1. August 1, 2025. Bill 4, an amendment to The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 to expand coverage to wildland firefighters.
  2. POL and PRO 17/2024, Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters (effective October 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025).
  3. POL and PRO 04/2006, Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters (effective February 1, 2006 to September 30, 2024).
  4. July 12, 2017. Policy and procedure review completed.
  5. May 1, 2015. References updated in accordance with amendments to The Workers’ Compensation Miscellaneous Regulations (Bill 28).
  6. January 1, 2014. References updated in accordance with The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (Bill 58).
  7. March 27, 2007. Policy and procedure review completed.
  8. Board Directive 25/74, Coverage – Volunteer Fire Brigade (effective April 15, 1974 to January 31, 2006).

Complements

POL 29/2025 Coverage – Volunteer Firefighters
POL 28/2025 Injuries – Firefighters
PRO 28/2025 Injuries – Firefighters
POL 08/2007 Compensation Rate – Where No Earnings at Disablement or Death

Two people signing documents
Two people signing documents

Looking for the full policy manual?

Click here to download the WCB’s current Policy and Procedure Manual.

Download full manual