Wildland Fire Works

Wildland Fire Management entities in Canada are at a critical juncture in their ability to provide traditional wildland fire protection to their clients. The increasing severity and length of wildland fire seasons are testing all those involved. This is coupled with increasingly complex planning regimes, loss of experienced staff, increased public scrutiny and expectations related to wildfire response. Globally, current fire management planning, technologies and approaches are demonstrably challenged to handle the current fire situation.

Additional response capacity such as air tankers and building community fuel breaks involve large capital investments and will take years to realize. Careful review and planning of wildland fire management investments is required to be efficient and effective. While this planning and investment takes place, effective response to increasingly long and arduous fire seasons in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. Recognizing the need to work smarter not harder is the first step to making your team more resilient and more effective in wildland fire response. Investing in the human element of wildland fire management can start right away.

Doing something about it is the next step, but you don’t have to do it alone.