BC Wildfire Service reports growth in number of recruits; boot camp underway in Merritt

KAMLOOPS — Ryan Edwards is one of about 260 chosen from a pool of more than 2,000 applicants to take part in BC Wildfire Service new recruit boot camps this spring in Merritt.

“Protecting B.C.,” Edwards replied when asked why he signed up for the job. “The rehabilitation of B.C., its forestry and making B.C. a better place.

“Just a great sense of purpose. That’s what I am seeking.”

Edwards and his pod of 64 recruits are enduring a six-day boot camp and were found alongside Marquart Lake on Thursday (April 24).

Instructors hunched beside pumps, hoses and other firefighting essentials, imparting knowledge before running pupils through drills.

Recruit Ward Van Donselaar is Dutch, but has been living in Vancouver and working as a cook.

He was searching for a lifestyle change and remembers driving through devastating wildfires a few years ago in the Okanagan.

“Seeing the province burn down, driving through it … you kind of want to help out,” he said.

Van Donselaar was feeling the brunt of manual labour under sunshine when he spoke to CFJC Today on Thursday.

“I’m feeling good about it. I’m a little nervous about it, too, to be honest with you,” Van Donselaar said. “Yesterday, we were digging line all day. You’re out in the sun and it’s super physical. It’s a big change. A lot of new things going on for me. Today, we’re doing pumps. I’m not much of a mechanic, so even that is a little bit daunting right now.”

Nelson resident Maia Klee said she loves working outside and appreciates the supportive camaraderie at boot camp.

Early-morning fitness routines are not quite as enjoyable.

“They really want you to push yourself to your brink and get prepared for being able to do that while you’re fighting fires,” Klee said. “When you’re in it, definitely it’s tough, but then afterward you have breakfast and everything goes back to normal.”

Recruits rise early, train hard, eat together, study together and sleep outside in tents.

“This job pushes people kind of beyond their comfort,” new recruit boot camp chair Mat Rigden said. “It’ll be the first time they’ve worked around a helicopter, the first time they’ve worked around chainsaws, both loud. Everything is exciting.

“We like the fact that we’re away from everyone. We work really hard. We put in our super long days and we don’t really expect anything back. It’s a culture that I’m proud of working for BC wildfire.”

The retention rate for returning seasonal wildfire fighters fluctuates, but about 12 per cent to 15 per cent of the crew workforce turns over each year, according to BCWS fire information office Jaedon Cooke.

“It’s not common that we have to cut people,” Rigden said. “Back to the culture piece, they get so caught up in the whole thing. We’re super passionate. All the instructors are passionate. They see that energy and they want to see what happens for a summer.”

Cooke noted a boost in the number of boot camp applicants this year (about 2,200), saying in an email that a touch more than 2,000 applied last year.

Rigden said there were about 800 applicants two years ago.

“Typically, it [a jump in applicants] follows busy fire seasons,” Rigden said, noting junior and high school programs are also contributing to the growing number of applicants.

“If people see the action … there’s lots of fires within cities now. It excites people.”

Graduating recruits will be assigned to unit crews and initial attack crews, joining the group of about 1,300 BCWS wildland firefighters expected to battle blazes this season.

“I just think it’s really important to help out however you can,” Klee said. “I’m sure we’ve all seen fire activity is increasing significantly over the past year. Every body that’s there is just going to make the summers that much better.”