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Ministry of Forests and Range, Wildfire Management Branch

Employment

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Become a Wildfire Fighter

Are you a physically fit, motivated, team-oriented individual looking for a challenging and dynamic workplace?

Please note: This page uses javascript to provide relevant recruiting information throughout the year. Your browser is not permitting the javascript to run, so you will not see any of these updates.Are you a physically fit, motivated, team-oriented individual looking for a challenging and dynamic workplace?The British Columbia Forest Service Wildfire Management Branch accepts applications for Fire Crew Member positions between November and January. You must submit an online (preferred) or PDF application in order to apply. No exceptions are made for late applications. If it currently after January 15th, please come back in late October or early November and apply for next year's fire season.

This section is displayed all year, and for people with scripts turned off.

This text will be displayed when applications are being accepted:

The British Columbia Forest Service Wildfire Management Branch is now recruiting for Fire Crew Member positions for the coming fire season. An online application must be submitted in order to be considered for employment.

Paper applications will not be accepted. The online application is the only accepted application method.

Click here for details on being a Fire Crew Member.

This text will be displayed in June through October when applications will soon be accepted:

The British Columbia Forest Service Wildfire Management Branch will begin recruiting for Fire Crew Member positions for next fire season in late October or early November. Please check this page at that time to use our online application system. You must apply with an application.

This text will be displayed when applications will soon be accepted or currently are being accepted:

Basic Qualifications

It is a basic requirement for all applicants to provide first aid certificate numbers or first aid registration information to indicate first aid requirements will be met prior to our New Recruit Boot Camp. This information must be provided on the online application to be considered complete. Applications without appropriate first aid documentation will not be considered.

For more information on accepted first aid tickets in the British Columbia workplace please see the following WorkSafe BC link: WorkSafe BC Accepted First Aid Certificates

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience or knowledge in the following area will be considered preferred qualification:

Resource or Wilderness work experience (please describe fully)
Resource training (Post secondary training in Forestry, Resource Management, Earth Sciences etc - please describe fully)
High level of academics or fitness achievements (please describe fully with a reference listed)
WorkSafe BC recognized OFA Level 3 valid through to September of 2012
Valid British Columbia Forest Safety Council BC Faller Certification or ENFORM Oil & Gas Faller Certification

It is the responsibility of candidates to clearly identify how they meet the preferred candidate qualifications.

This text will be displayed in November through January when applications are currently being accepted:

Firefighter using a Pulaski

Physical Ability Assessment

Fitness Competency

As a part of the recruiting process we will conduct a physical ability assessment during the interview phase. The assessment is a required element of the recruitment process for all candidates scheduled for an interview.

The physical ability assessment will be the Leger 20-metre Shuttle Run. There will be no passing level to the shuttle run, but you will be required to participate in this assessment. Shuttle run scores will be added to your interview score to further assist in screening evaluations. All candidates who are invited to participate in our training camps (Boot Camp) later in the spring will be required to pass our pre-employment fitness standard prior to completing the training camp.

Timeline

The recruiting process can be quite lengthy, running from the application deadline in January, to a possible boot camp invite in April and job offer by mid-May. We make every effort to keep candidates informed on their status during this time, by email and phone, and it is your responsibility to update and ensure your contact information is current throughout the process. If you are no longer being considered we will advise you directly as soon as possible.

The general timeline for the recruiting process is:

January 24 - application deadline
early February - application screening
mid February through mid March - interviews in various locations in BC
end of March - invites to candidates for boot camp
May - job offers

To apply

Use our online application system. Your application must be completely filled out by January 24th.

PLEASE NOTE: We are experiencing some difficulty with the menu. After logging in, look at the top left corner of the screen. If you get a message similar to the one displayed on the right, simply press Refresh to correct the error and you should be able to continue with your application. This only seems to happen when first logging in, and then works properly until the next login.

This text will be displayed when applications are no longer being accepted:

The British Columbia Forest Service Wildfire Management Branch is NO LONGER accepting applications for Fire Crew Member positions for the coming fire season.

If you are scheduled for an interview you will be required to participate in a fitness assessment session. You will need to complete a ParQ questionnaire which will be provided at this session prior to participating. The Fire Crew Medical Examination form needs to be completed by a physician only if you are invited to one of our training Boot Camps later in the spring.

This text will be displayed in February while apps are being assessed:

If you applied this year, your application is presently being assessed. Please do not contact the Wildfire Management Branch office to enquire about your application's status - we will contact you either by mail or telephone. Please check this page periodically for general updates.

If you applied using our online application form, you may log on to see if any specific updates are available.

This text will be displayed in November through January when applications are currently being accepted, and in February while apps are being assessed:

We will only contact those applicants who pass the initial screening criteria and who will be invited for an interview.

This text will be displayed in March when applications when interviews are underway:

The BCFS has now completed application screening for the coming fire season. All successful candidates have been contacted to schedule interviews.

If you have not heard from us already, you are not being considered for any vacancies for this upcoming season. We thank you for your interest, and we encourage you to apply again next year. The application form for next year will be available on this web page in November.

This text will be displayed when interviews are complete:

The BCFS has now completed interviews for the coming fire season. All individuals who were interviewed will be advised of their status by mid-April.

Thank you to everyone who applied. If you are not hired this year we encourage you to apply again next year.

This text will be displayed in April when the eligibility list is done:

The BCFS has now compiled its Fire Crew eligibility list. Letters advising all candidates of their status (i.e. whether or not you are on the list) are sent via email in early April. Please do not contact the Wildfire Management Branch office to enquire about your status - you will be notified by mail.

This text will be displayed in May and June when all positions are filled:

All fire positions have now been filled and only in unique circumstances will we be contacting remaining eligibility list candidates for possible hire in the current year. Anyone who was not successful in obtaining a position this year is encouraged to re-apply for next fire season.

Firefighter using a Pulaski Unfortunately, given the relatively low turnover on our crews (10 to 12%) we are not in a position to offer jobs to all the qualified people who make the eligibility list. It's a very competitive process when approximately 1000 people apply for roughly 100 jobs!

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Become a Dispatcher

The Operations Centre Dispatcher is employed at the Fire Centre and fills a highly technical role. They provide the communication link between the fire control centre and the field operations in support of fire control functions.