Record number of people apply to work with the BC Wildfire Service this year

This year, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has seen a record number of applicants who want to protect British Columbians from the dangers of the province’s wildfires. 

The Province says they are ramping up wildfire preparedness for 2025, and are doing so by welcoming back experienced wildland firefighters as well as training a massive new batch of recruits. 

Since October of last year, the BCWS has received over 1,700 applications to work with them in a number of capacities, but mostly to work in the field battling the province’s blazes. 

This is the most applicants the BCWS have ever received. 

Even just in January, 578 individuals have applied, which has also set a record for the largest number received in a single month. 

“The heart of our wildfire efforts is hands down the brave members of the BC Wildfire Service,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. 

“I’m proud of everyone who put their name forward to join our team and grateful to all the wildland firefighters who continue to keep us safe year after year.”

New trainees are already being shown the ropes out at the Merritt Fire Zone training facility, where Parmar visited this week. 

They are being taught specific aspects of the Province’s four pillars to wildfire response: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. 

“Wildfire prevention is about more than stopping new fires – it’s about working together with our partners and communities to reduce wildfire risk,” Parmar said. 

“The BC Wildfire Service has already had a busy start to 2025, supporting our neighbours in California as they dealt with devastating wildfires. This was an invaluable opportunity to collaborate on our shared work and prepare for our own wildfire season in BC.”

Part of the Province’s plan to battle the summer’s blazes was developing a dedicated training and recruitment model for First Nations communities, which expanded this spring. First Nations bootcamps will begin in April 2025.

Once the fire bootcamps and training has been completed, successful candidates will be offered positions on crews throughout the province.

In 2023, BC’s wildfire response cost the Province around $817 million. Last year that figure was slightly lower, at $621 million. 

In the 2025 Budget, BC has allotted only $238 million for wildfire management in the coming fire season.