Amid Canada’s robust wildfire season, opinions break up over use of volunteers and reservists

As Canada grapples with its second-worst wildfire season on document, might extra volunteer firefighters and wildfire reservists be useful in addressing out-of-control fires sooner or later? 

The reply might ultimately emerge in Alberta as that province launched a wildfire reservist program in 2024.

The provincial authorities’s program permits anybody to enroll to assist combat fires. Forestry Minister Todd Loewen mentioned those that are 18 and older who join get a day and a half of coaching and bear a health take a look at. They can assist out in firefighter camps or work on scorching spots. Reservists receives a commission throughout coaching and if they’re deployed.

Sean Gurnsey mentioned he plans to enroll subsequent 12 months.

“The general feeling is, hey, if we can help somebody not to go through their worst day, I mean, that would be a good thing for us to do,” he mentioned.

In May 2023, wildfires began to burn close to Gurnsey’s property in rural Alberta. He did not assume twice about leaping into motion although he had no firefighting expertise. He and his household used what they needed to combat the flames approaching the household property north of Peers, Alta., roughly 175 kilometres west of Edmonton.

“We were trying to fight it with whatever we had — dirt, a couple skid steers, pails, five-gallon pails,” Gurnsey mentioned.

The property was saved thanks partly to a contingent of family and neighbours who stepped as much as assist.

“It was a 24-hour period before we saw official firefighters,” Gurnsey mentioned.

During the 2023 wildfires, many Albertans defied evacuation orders so they might keep and defend their properties.

“People,… especially when they’re evacuated from their community, they really want to be involved,” Loewen mentioned. “Their lives are already disrupted and they want to be involved and help where they can. 

“We need to be sure that that chance’s obtainable for them.”

Roughly 100 people signed up for the program in 2024 and approximately 80 signed up in 2025, according to a ministry spokesperson.

Despite the lower numbers, Loewen said the program will continue.

“There must at all times be a possibility for folks to assist, and we recognize the assistance,” he said.

The Australian model

An ocean away, Australia leans heavily on volunteers to fight wildfires.

In the state of Victoria, the Country Fire Authority — a volunteer service — is responsible for responding to fires outside city centres, including bush fires.

Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said volunteers with the service receive nationally recognized training and have full workers’ compensation coverage, but they do not receive financial compensation.

“Lots of people volunteer to take care of their very own property, their neighbour and their pals down the street,” he said. 

“Other folks do it as a result of they’ve a necessity and a need to give again to neighborhood and really feel that volunteering as a part of their native fireplace service is a solution to give again.”

Heffernan suggested he believes the model has its merits.

“It works for the communities that we do have,” he said. “We deploy interstate repeatedly. We have the power to have the ability to pull that collectively. And I feel there’s classes to be discovered. 

“Don’t discount the value that volunteering can bring.”

Wildland fireplace ecologist raises issues

Firefighting will be harmful. Two wildland firefighters were killed in Canada in 2024.

Wildland fireplace ecologist Bob Gray mentioned he doesn’t help volunteers engaged on wildfires.

“It’s very, very dangerous work,” he defined.

“You need people who are committed, who are going to make a career out of it, and you need to pay them for that. You need to compensate them for the risk they’re putting themselves into.”

When talking about Alberta’s reservist mannequin, Gray mentioned he has issues in regards to the size of coaching being a day and a half.

“That is not enough,” he mentioned. “You’re putting people at risk. You’re potentially creating an incident inside of an incident if you don’t have trained, physically fit, qualified people on the fire line.

“They will not acknowledge the hazards [like] having the ability to perceive fireplace behaviour, understanding actions and reactions.”

Gurnsey said he believes local residents can bring valuable experience to a firefight, such as intimate knowledge of a region and a vested interest in their community.

While he acknowledged the possible dangers, he said people should be allowed to decide for themselves if they want to help. 

Gurnsey added he believes the additional manpower helps in a country as vast as Canada.

“I’m not encouraging recklessness,” he said. 

“Hopefully folks will be sensible. But you have to be allowed the choice whether or not or not you combat in your place, in your neighbours, in your livelihood.”

Other provinces in Canada are additionally exploring the usage of volunteer firefighters.

According to the Interagency Forest Fire Centre, practically eight million hectares have burned so far in Canada this wildfire season.