The BC Wildfire Service has received a record number of applications ahead of the 2025 wildfire season, as the province ramps up efforts to bolster its firefighting capacity.
Since October 2024, more than 1,700 applications have been submitted, the highest on record. January alone saw 578 applications, the most ever received in a single month. The influx comes as B.C. works to enhance its emergency response capacity through expanded recruitment and training initiatives, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities.
“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.”
Parmar, who toured the Merritt Fire Zone training facility in the Thompson Okanagan this week, emphasized the province’s focus on the four pillars of emergency management: prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. Recent efforts have included measures to make firefighting roles more accessible, particularly for candidates in remote areas.
A dedicated training and recruitment program for First Nations communities will expand this spring, with bootcamps designed to build local firefighting capacity and strengthen relationships between Indigenous communities and regional fire centres. These sessions, set to begin in April, will be hosted at several fire centres across the province, alongside new recruit bootcamps at the Merritt training facility. Successful candidates will be offered positions on wildfire crews.
“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.”
The BC Wildfire Service is a year-round agency that collaborates with local contractors, municipalities, First Nations, and international partners to secure resources and improve fire mitigation strategies. This includes securing equipment and aircraft contracts, implementing new technologies, and engaging local stakeholders in wildfire prevention efforts.
With wildfire seasons becoming more severe, officials are urging continued collaboration between government agencies, communities, and emergency responders to improve readiness and response capabilities.
