Wildfire fighters
Last updated on December 9, 2024Becoming a BC Wildfire Service firefighter
The BC Wildfire Service employs approximately 1,300 wildfire fighters each year, working on one of four crew types spread across the province. We are proud to have a diverse team and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all. To learn more about a day in the life of a BC Wildfire Service firefighter, including women in wildfire, visit our YouTube channel.
To become a wildfire fighter with the BC Wildfire Service, applicants must show motivation, have a relevant skill set, complete the WFX-FIT fitness test and attend the BC Wildfire Service's New Recruit Boot Camp.
There are typically around 200 openings for the crew member position each season, in locations across the entire province. Interviews will be conducted every month and successful applicants will be offered spots to New Recruit Bootcamp based on forecasted vacancies.
Recruitment webinars
Interested in learning more about being a wildfire fighter with the BC Wildfire Service? 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.
Dates:
- Nov. 20, 2024, at 7 p.m. PST
- Dec. 4, 2024, at 7 p.m. PST
- Dec. 18, 2024, at 7 p.m. PST
Links to attend upcoming webinars:
Watch past webinars:
We look forward to having you attend the event!
2025 Application process
Applications to become a firefighter with the BC Wildfire Service for the 2025 season will be open from Oct. 1, 2024, to Feb. 28, 2025. Online applications must be completed by the Feb. 28, 2025, deadline.
Applications must be completed and submitted online through the link below. Paper applications will not be accepted. The online application consists of a questionnaire with space for the applicant to paste a copy of their cover letter and resume.
Once you have submitted your online application you will be notified whether you will be offered an interview as applications are received and vacancies are determined.
Explore different work locations by visiting the BC Wildfire Service Provincial Map.
Interview process
Applicants who successfully pass the screening phase will be invited to an interview. The BC Wildfire Service will be holding virtual interviews for the 2025 recruiting cycle, beginning as early as October 2024. Interviews will continue monthly until April 2025, as needed.
The interview consist of behavioral competencies, situational and technical questions related to firefighting in B.C.
WFX-Fit Test
Candidates must meet the pre-employment fitness standard, the WFX-Fit test. Unsuccessful candidates will not be allowed to continue with New Recruit Boot Camp (NRBC). Please review the linked WFX-Fit test overview to ensure your understanding of the test, requirements and programs available.
In order to participate in the WFX-Fit test, candidates must bring a completed Physician Release Form to NRBC and present it to the fit test appraiser. The form will be provided to you upon accepting a spot at NRBC.
New Recruit Boot Camp (NRBC)
Based on the crew member vacancy, top scoring applicants from the interviews will be invited to New Recruit Boot Camp (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 be completed.
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.
Completion of the New Recruit Bootcamp is considered equivalent to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) S-131 Crew Member Training Standard.
General recruitment timeline
The hiring process is long. The BC Wildfire Service will keep candidates informed of their status by email and phone. It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure that their contact information is correct. If an applicant is no longer being considered, the BC Wildfire Service will advise the applicant directly 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
Eligibility requirements
Before you apply, make sure you meet the following eligibility requirements.
Eligible to work in Canada
All positions in the BC Public Service require that applicants are eligible to work in Canada. We do not sponsor individual work visas.
To be eligible to work in Canada, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada or authorized in writing to work in Canada under the federal Immigration Act. Eligibility to work in Canada is granted through citizenship, permanent resident status or a work permit.
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to accept a permanent job offer (unless stated otherwise in the posting).
If you have a valid temporary work permit, you may be eligible for temporary (auxiliary) work but only until your work permit expires or is renewed. For information on temporary work permit requirements, go to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
First aid requirement
All applicants must possess a first aid certificate recognized in the B.C. workplace. The minimum certification options include:
- Occupational First Aid Level 1 or Level 2 certificate and Transportation Endorsement
or - Occupational First Aid Level 3 certificate
First aid certificates must be valid until Oct. 31, 2025. You will be asked to show proof of first aid or proof of enrollment in a recognized first aid course at the interview. Applicants without appropriate first aid documentation (certificate, enrollment or equivalency certificate) will be removed from the competition.
For more information on accepted first aid tickets in the British Columbia workplace please see WorkSafe BC Accepted First Aid Certificates.
If you are a certified first aid attendant outside of BC or an emergency medical assistant or a paramedic in industry within BC, you can be issued a certificate to carry out occupational first aid in BC. The jurisprudence package to complete this process is located here Jurisprudence Package for Other Jurisdictions.
More information on obtaining a First Aid Equivalency certificate can also be found by contacting an approved training provider as listed on the WorkSafe BC First Aid Training Providers webpage.
Applications without appropriate first aid will not be considered.
Driver’s license requirement
A valid Canadian driver’s license (equivalent to BC Class 7, 5) or a license that enables you to legally drive in Canada, is required for initial attack, rappel and parattack.
A driver’s license is not required to apply for a fire crew position; however, a valid Canadian driver’s license (Class 7, 5) is preferred for all crews.
Preferred qualifications
Candidates must identify on their resume and application how they meet the preferred qualifications. Meeting all the preferred qualifications is not required, but applicants should highlight how they meet as many qualifications as they can.
Generally, an applicant would be required to show strong examples in two or three of the following preferred qualifications to be considered for an interview:
Work experience
- Previous experience on a BCWS fire crew
- Previous wildland firefighting experience with a government agency
- Previous contract crew wildland firefighting experience
- Volunteer fire department experience (NFPA training alone would not be considered a preferred qualification)
- Forestry work experience, such as logging, planting, fall and burn, silviculture, layout, probing, etc.
- Resource-based work and experience, such as oil and gas work, mining or farming
- Trades experience, including Red Seal and Skilled Trades
- Junior fire crew training or employment through a B.C. secondary school as part of an endorsed work experience program
Educational background
- Post-secondary Forestry or Resource Management education, including Forest Professional Regulators of Canada (FPRC) accredited degree programs and Forest Professionals BC (FPBC) recognized diploma programs
- Other Resource Management education as recognized by the FPBC, such as Registered Forest Technologist, Natural Resource Professional, Accredited Timber Cruiser or Evaluator, Silviculture Accredited Surveyor or a Transferring Professional
- Valid BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) Faller Certification or Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors (CAGC) Faller Certification
- Currently holding a valid OFA 3 ticket
Academic and athletic achievement
- High-level fitness or sports achievement above and beyond the level obtained by the average applicant, such as a member of a university athletic team, high-level athletic involvement or awards for fitness or sport achievement. High school sports teams or university intramurals would not be considered a preferred qualification.
- High-level academic achievement above and beyond the level obtained by the average applicant, such as full academic scholarships or major academic awards
Extensive outdoor or wilderness experience
- Paid experiences, such as guiding ski patrol, outfitting/guiding, guardianship or stewardship roles
- Unpaid experiences that demonstrate an extensive background in outdoor exploits, extensive experience on the land base and an understanding of the environment and local cultures. This may include hunting and trapping, fishing, backcountry activities, fire keeping or fire watching.
What to include in your examples
All work experience examples should include the following, if applicable:
- Dates/number of years of experience
- Location(s)
- Supervisor(s)
- Company
- Training received
- Scope of work (including relevant specific details, especially experience with wildfires)
- Number of days deployed (if describing previous wildfire fighter experience)
All educational background examples should include the following, if applicable:
- In progress or completed (include your current year of study or date of completion)
- Institution
- Name of degree, diploma or certificate program
All academic and athletic achievement examples should include the following, if applicable:
- Dates
- Location(s)
- Supervisor(s)
- Organization/institution
- Name and description of award(s), scholarship(s) or accolade(s)
All extensive outdoor or wilderness experience examples should include the following, if applicable:
- Dates/number of years of experience
- Location(s)
- Paid or unpaid
- Company/organization
- Training received
Application assistance
If you have any questions about the application process or experience technical issues when completing the online application form, please email: BCWS.Recruiting@gov.bc.ca.
Due to the large volume of applications, the recruitment team is unable to provide individual application feedback or advise on which examples a candidate should use to demonstrate preferred qualifications.
Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service
The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is a service available to Indigenous applicants (First Nations [status or non-status], Métis or Inuit) seeking to work in the BC Public Service.
Indigenous applicants interested in BC Public Service positions, including temporary assignments, auxiliary appointments, permanent part-time, permanent full-time and expression of interest, can receive high-level advice and guidance on the hiring system and process.
Learn more about the Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is the online application the only way to apply?
A: Yes, paper or faxed copies will not be accepted.
Q: How do I know if my first aid ticket is accepted in B.C.?
A: The first aid tickets accepted in the British Columbia workplace can be found on the WorkSafe BC website. More information on obtaining a First Aid Equivalency certificate can also be found by contacting an approved training provider as listed on the WorkSafe BC First Aid Training Providers webpage. Out of jurisdiction certificate holder may go through a jurisprudence process to have their certificate recognized in BC.
Q: What if I cannot find my first aid ticket on the WorkSafeBC site?
A: It is likely that your ticket is not recognized by WorkSafeBC. To be employed by the BC Wildfire Service you must have a valid first aid ticket and transportation endorsement (or Level 3 first aid) which are recognized by WorkSafeBC. The BC Wildfire Service cannot consider your application without a valid first aid ticket(s). You will be asked to show proof of acceptable first aid or proof of enrollment in a recognized first aid course at the interview. Candidates must have successfully completed the first aid course prior to attendance at boot camp.
Q: How can I get feedback on my application or interview?
A: Due to the large volume of applications we are unable to provide individual feedback for applications. A candidate must clearly detail in their resume and cover letter any preferred qualifications they meet.
The interview panel may be able to provide general feedback from your interview when it is conducted but will not be able to tell you how well you did in relation to other interviewees.
Q: How can I update my contact information?
A: Please refer to the instructions on the application site to update your contact information.
Q: How many applications do you receive and how many jobs are there?
A: On average the BC Wildfire Service receives 1,000 to 2,100 applications each year. The number of jobs changes from year to year, ranging from 100 for a low year to over 350.
Q: Do I get to choose where I want to work?
A: Recruitment and crew allocation is a provincial process and applicants should expect to be placed on a fire crew anywhere in the province when they apply. An applicant’s preferred work location is considered but there are often limited openings. Individuals can be asked to work in another location or crew type that may not be their preference.
Q: Will accommodations be provided for me?
A: In most cases, staff are responsible for finding their own accommodations near their work locations; local and returning staff and crew members may be able to assist you in finding accommodations. In a few locations staff housing is provided as an option either at no fee or a nominal cost. These locations include: Alexis Creek (Unit Crew), Chetwynd (Initial Attack), Fort Nelson (Initial Attack), and Salmon Arm (Rapattack).
Q. How do I apply for Parattack?
A. To learn more about applying for the BC Wildfire Service Parattack program, visit the Parattack wildfire fighter application page.
Q. What if I missed the application deadline?
A. In addition to its own crews, the BC Wildfire Service regularly calls on the services of contract crews to support the delivery of wildfire management in British Columbia. If you have missed the deadline for applying to be a wildfire fighter with BC Wildfire Service, you may wish to consider approaching one of the contract companies approved to provide firefighting services to the province: Find approved contract companies.
Contact information
BCWS.Recruiting@gov.bc.ca
BCWS.PGFCParattackRecruiting@gov.bc.ca
IndigenousApplicants@gov.bc.ca