As we inch closer to the 2025 wildfire season in British Columbia, the Province says there has been a record number of people looking to join the service.

It is welcoming back experienced wildland firefighters and training a new wave of recruits. “Since October 2024, the BC Wildfire Service received more than 1,700 applications, the highest recorded number of applications ever received. This includes 578 in January alone, the largest number ever received in a single month.”

BC’s Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar says the brave members of the BC Wildfire Service are the Heartbeat of the wildfire service. “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.”

Parmar points to a series of enhancements that were made last year to help strengthen pathways for participation in wildfire response as a reason for the increase in applications. It is noted that there has been a real spike in applicants from rural and remote communities.

“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”

Touring the Thompson Okanagan this week, Parmar met with BC Wildfire Service staff at the Merritt Fire Zone training facility. First Nations bootcamps will begin in April 2025 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.