The Province is looking to hire more wildland firefighters after some help with a pilot project in the Cariboo Fire Centre.
The pilot program was initially launched in 2021 with the Fire Centre, in partnership with the Tsilqot’in National Government, Northern Shuswap Tribal Council, Esk’etemc First Nation and Ulkatcho First Nation.
Community Engagement Specialist, Madison Dahl says the goal for the project was to reverse the trend of decreasing Indigenous crew member numbers.
“It was created because we recognized that there was a need to increase the number of Indigenous crew members.” says Dahl.
“Historically Indigenous persons made up a very large component of BC Wildfire Service personnel and crew, not only in the Cariboo but throughout British Columbia, and there has been a market decrease in the number of Indigenous crew members and representation in the last few years.”
Dahl added that with the partnership, they were able to embark on a unique recruitment and training initiative specifically tailored to meet the needs of rural Indigenous youth.
Since 2021, the initiative led to 20 local First Nation individuals being trained to a type one standard, and from those 20, seven were hired onto initial attack and unit crews in the Cariboo Fire Centre.
She says that success is measured by more than just quantitative numbers, as many of the students that weren’t hired were employed by Indigenous fire crews, and they are an integral and valuable response resource in the region.
Dahl notes that the project will continue at the Fire Centre, and will also be expanded to the Costal Fire Centre in spring of this year.
More information on the enhanced wildland firefighter recruitment can be found on the Province’s website here.
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