Image: BC Wildfire Service / File

By Liam Verster, Vernon Matters

Locals sought

Hiring to begin soon for BC wildland firefighters

Jan 28, 2024 | 11:45 AM

CHILLIWACK — The province is looking for people with in-depth knowledge of the terrain and area where they live to help fight wildfires this summer.

The B.C. Wildfire Service has received feedback from an expert task force on emergencies and incorporated it into its hiring process, allowing more people to join its ranks and fight fires.

“Climate change causes hotter and longer fire seasons, so the demand for skilled firefighters with local knowledge has never been higher,” Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests, said.

“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.”

Also among the changes made through recommendations of the task force was opening more opportunities for people living in rural and remote communities.

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Expanding First Nations bootcamps, extending the hiring period for new recruits and encouraging applicants to specify the location they would like to work are also under way.

“People living in First Nations, rural and remote communities bear a disproportionate impact from the rising threat of wildfires,” Wayne Schnitzler, task force member and executive director of First Nations’ Emergency Services Society, said.

“I’m pleased to see the province is boosting recruitment initiatives, including expanding First Nations boot camps 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.”

It was noted the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness were working directly with the task force to incorporate feedback and prepare for the 2024 wildfire season.

“We are acting on lessons learned from the 2023 hazard season and opening the door even wider to local recruitment and response capacity across the province,” Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, said.

“BC Wildfire Service crew members don’t only fight fires, they are also mobilized to help respond to other emergencies like floods and more. Ensuring we have a strong complement of BCWS crew members filled with local talent across the province means we can better protect people and support communities from whatever emergencies come our way.”

The B.C. Wildfire Service usually hires around 1,600 wildland firefighters each year, with the province stating roughly 1,000 had already applied for the next fire year as of time of publication.

The deadline to submit an application is March 31, 2024, with details on the application process and the requirements here.