Minister Parmar at the Kamloops Fire Centre (March 16) (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

2026 Wildfire Season

Forests minister touts investment into BC Wildfire Service during stop in Kamloops

Mar 16, 2026 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — While Kamloops residents woke up to snow on the ground Monday (March 16) morning, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is beginning to ramp up its preparation for the summer fire season.

The service says it has received a record-breaking amount of applicants looking to join the team. B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar, who is responsible for the BC Wildfire Service, was in Kamloops on Monday morning, touting millions of dollars of investment across the province.

The 2025 wildfire season was the worst on record for Canada. British Columbia fared slightly better than years previous, but still faced devastating fires across the northeast of the province.

“I think for any British Columbians looking at the snow right now, they are probably thankful for it,” said Parmar. “But it was a dry (winter) and I think you just have to ask the folks in the northeast of our province the impact seasonal droughts have on them. Again, my message to British Columbians is the BC Wildfire Service is ready for the 2026 wildfire season, but we all have a role to play. Folks should be FireSmarting their properties.”

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Parmar announced new funding to the tune of $14 million to expand equipment for on-ground wildfire personnel. 

BCWS received more than 2,400 employment applications this year, with the need to fill approximately 250 vacancies within their ranks.

“In Budget 2026, there was an additional $15 million for our FireSmart programming, as well,” added Parmar. “During that announcement, I committed to British Columbians to reviewing all of our FireSmart programming. And over the course of the next number of months we are going to be engaging with British Columbians, engaging with communities, local governments, First Nations, around the future of that program.”

Nearly two years ago, Premier David Eby came to Kamloops to announce a new partnership with TRU, which included a new wildfire training and education centre in a purpose-built facility on campus.

“Yes, there will be a beautiful new facility housing these training programs. The exact location of the building is yet to be determined but it will be owned and operated by TRU,” said Eby back in April 2024 during the announcement at TRU.

“I don’t have an update this morning on the building infrastructure, but I want all British Columbians to be assured we have a powerful partnership with the university and that is going to lead to not only all of British Columbia benefitting but, I would argue, all Canadians benefitting,” said Parmar. 

The province, along with BCWS, expects to release their spring seasonal outlook in the weeks ahead.