Last year marked BC’s worst year for wildfires in recorded history, with the most damage done, the most people impacted and the most devastating environmental impacts.
Over 2.84 million hectares were burned, hundreds of homes were lost, tens of thousands were evacuated and an estimated $817 million was spent on fire suppression, but looking ahead to the next wildfire season, the Province wants to be better prepared.
In 2023, around 2,000 personnel were hired locally to battle the fires and this year they are looking to add to that number with local talent who are familiar with the terrain.
Already, the Province has received over 1,000 firefighter applicants for the 2024 wildfire season with three months of hiring remaining.
“Climate change causes hotter and longer fire seasons, so the demand for skilled firefighters with local knowledge has never been higher,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests.
“By expanding our hiring process to bring in more highly trained professionals, especially in rural communities, we will be more effective at responding to wildfires when and where they happen.”
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BC knows it needs all the help it can get and is especially keen to find people in remote and rural communities to expand their network of emergency response personnel into the hard to reach regions of the province.
First Nations “bootcamps,” where wildfire knowledge is taught are being expanded as part of this initiative and in the lengthened application process, aspiring firefighters will now be able to indicate their location of preference, according to the Province.
“People living in First Nations, rural and remote communities bear a disproportionate impact from the rising threat of wildfires,” said Wayne Schnitzler, task force member and executive director of First Nations’ Emergency Services Society.
“I’m pleased to see the Province is boosting recruitment initiatives, including expanding First Nations bootcamps as recommended by the Premier’s expert task force on emergencies.”
“These initiatives break down barriers and pave the way for increased participation of Indigenous peoples as wildland firefighters,” he continued.
The Province says they intend on learning as much as possible from local First Nations about traditional ways of firefighting and will be implementing those ways into their curriculums through the BC Wildfire Service.
So far in their hiring efforts for this year’s season, BC says over 500 interviews have been completed and those who wish to join the BC Wildfire Service in fighting fires have until March 31st to apply online.
