BC Wildfire Service File Photo

By Victor Kaisar

BC Wildfire Recruitment

BC Wildfire Service reports ‘record’ number of applicants ahead of 2025 fire season

Mar 20, 2025 | 1:39 PM

VICTORIA — The BC Government says there has been a record number of applicants who have come forward to join the BC Wildfire Service, which is preparing for the upcoming wildfire season which gets underway on April 1.

In a news release Thursday (March 20), the BC Wildfire Service said it received more than 1,700 applications since Oct. 2024 – 578 of which came in January alone, making it the most received in a single month.

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

The Wildfire Service says there are approximately 200 openings for new crew members across the Province each year. It also notes the application period was extended to October through February ahead of the 2024 wildfire season.

Parmar, who is touring the touring the Thompson Okanagan this week, met with BC Wildfire Service staff in Merritt Thursday. He was also in Kamloops on Wednesday. He said “a series of enhancements” that were made last year helped lead to a spike in applicants in rural and remote communities.

Two and Out

PETERS: Eby's Bill 7 fights Trump with more Trump

Mar 21, 2025

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Sometimes we realize we've made a huge blunder when it's too late to change it

Mar 20, 2025

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Time to stop hanging on Trump's every word

Mar 19, 2025

“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 B.C.”

Fire Nations training and recruitment model to come

The Province also said a dedicated training and recruitment model for First Nations communities will be expanded this spring.

It also says that model will include sessions “that build local capacity, strengthen relationships between the local First Nation and fire centre, improve wildfire response, and address needs heard from communities.”

The Province also said First Nations bootcamps will begin in April in several fire centres, along with new-recruit bootcamps at the Merritt training facility.

“Upon completion, successful candidates will be offered positions on crews around the province,” the statement said.

You can find more about the First Nations bootcamp here, and more about the New Recruit Bootcamp here.