Partners and additional support

Last updated on May 18, 2023

BC Wildfire Service received military support to help with wildfire response

In years with significant fire activity, the BC Wildfire Service calls for additional support from contract firefighters, out-of-province agencies, the military and more.  

Provincial support 

The BC Wildfire Service receives local support from several partners around B.C. Partnering with local and provincial stakeholder groups allows the BC Wildfire Service to receive input and expertise from a diverse set of professionals and enables more informed decision making. 

BC Wildfire Service's partners includes:

  • Indigenous communities 
  • Cultural organizations
  • Forest industry professionals
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Community education programs
  • Municipalities

Out-of-province personnel and equipment

The BC Wildfire Service receives assistance from other wildfire response agencies across Canada and around the world. Incoming professionals provide support in all areas of wildfire management, including filling leadership roles to give existing staff rest. Out-of-province personnel may be assigned as:

  • Initial attack crews
  • Unit crews
  • Incident management teams and personnel
  • Operational leadership
  • Logistics staff
  • Planning staff
  • Other supportive roles

Mutual aid agreements are established to allow efficient transfer of resources in and out of B.C. This means that if other regions, such as Australia or California, require additional assistance, the BC Wildfire Service can deploy its available resources to help others.

Military assistance

The Canadian military also provides assistance in several ways during a busy wildfire season:

  • Aviation support (transportation and logistics)
  • Search and rescue operations
  • Medical evacuations
  • Personnel for mop-up, patrol and low-risk fireline activities
  • Community assistance

Frequently asked questions