Wildfire Suppression

Wildfire Suppression is an activity which can vary significantly from province to province. In British Columbia, for example, some fire fighters are hired on provincial government crews and work on a full-time basis, either fighting fires or on training/standby, whereas others are hired by contractors and may work for shorter periods, but with more activity, during the peaks of the season.

Being a member of a fire crew can often be an "all or nothing" situation. There will be times when there are no fires to be suppressed in your area, so your daily activities may be limited to lots of training and physical conditioning, and making sure your suppression equipment remains in good working order. During these times, many fire fighters may become slightly restless and bored. However, once a fire needs to be attacked, you'll find yourself working exhausting shifts, which involve a great deal of physical exertion.

Due to the nature of the work, fire suppression can be a more dangerous line of work than many other silviculture activities. Safety is highly emphasized in this field, as with other fields, but caution is always paramount when working on the fire line and also around equipment. Obviously, fire fighting work is a very seasonal activity, with almost all of the work taking place in May through September.