BC Wildfire career opportunities

Are you passionate about preserving our B.C. forests and love working outdoors? Launch your career in wildfire fighting today. Join us in making a difference while enjoying an exciting and rewarding job. Apply now to start your adventure.

Current opportunities

We employ approximately 1,300 wildfire fighters each year on our four crew types. We hire fire crews across the province including rural firefighting jobs. There are around 200 openings for B.C. government fire jobs each season. Explore different work locations by visiting the BC Wildfire Service Provincial Map.

Interviews will be conducted every month. Successful applicants will be offered spots at New Recruit Boot Camp based on forecasted vacancies.

To learn more about how B.C. fire crew members create a positive impact visit our YouTube channel.

Information sessions

Interested in learning more about being a wildfire fighter with the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS)? Have questions about your application and the hiring process?

Join BCWS staff and crew leaders at an upcoming recruitment webinar. Pre-registration is not necessary.

Reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. This includes Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, immigrants, persons with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to Canadian Indigenous (First Nations [status or non-status], Métis or Inuit) applicants.

Watch this video to learn more about women in wildfire.

Application process

Applications for firefighting jobs with the BC Wildfire Service are open from October 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025. Applications must be submitted by the February 28, 2025 deadline.

Applications must be completed and submitted online. Paper applications are not accepted. The online application consists of a questionnaire with space to paste a copy of your cover letter and resume.

After you submit your application, BCWS will notify you if you're selected for an interview.

Apply now: Fire crew job openings

Interview process

Applicants who successfully pass the screening phase are invited to an interview. Virtual interviews for the 2025 recruiting cycle begin as early as October 2024. Interviews will continue monthly until April 2025 as needed.

Interviews include questions to test behavioral competencies and situational and technical questions related to firefighting in B.C.

WFX-Fit Test

Candidates must meet the pre-employment fitness standard. Unsuccessful candidates will not be allowed to continue with New Recruit Boot Camp (NRBC). Please review the WFX-Fit test overview to make sure you understand the test, requirements and training programs available.

To participate in the WFX-Fit test, candidates must bring a completed Physician Release Form to their testing date and present it to the fit test appraiser. The form will be provided when you accept a spot at NRBC.

New Recruit Boot Camp (NRBC)

Based on crew member vacancies, top scoring applicants from the interviews will be invited to NRBC. Multiple camps are offered, ranging from 6 to 8 days long. Camps begin in mid-April and run to mid-May. Prior to arriving at NRBC, you will be given a series of online courses to complete.

The following courses are taught at NRBC:

• Wildfire Service Overview
• Fundamentals of Firefighting
• Portable Pumps and Water Deliver Systems
• Burning Off and Backfiring
• Heavy Equipment
• Chainsaw Operations
• Wilderness Survival
• Human Factors
• Fireline Communications
• Helicopter Safety
• Fire Weather
• Incident Command System
• Safety and Wildfire Entrapment
• Navigation

After NRBC, successful candidates will be offered a position on one of the fire crews in the province. A first-year firefighter can expect to work until the end of October with the chance of being offered an extension depending on the fire conditions and activity. If required, firefighters can request an early departure to meet other commitments, such as school or another seasonal career.

The following video provides a brief overview of what new recruits can expect at NRBC.

General recruitment timeline

The hiring process takes time. The BC Wildfire Service will keep you informed of your application status by email and phone. It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure their contact information is correct. If an applicant is no longer being considered, the BCWS will inform the applicant as soon as possible.

General timeline for the recruiting process:

• Early October: online applications open
• February 28: application deadline
• October to April: interviews (continue monthly as needed)
• November to April: invitations to New Recruit Boot Camp
• April to mid-May: New Recruit Boot Camp sessions
• April to mid-May: job offers