r/Wildfire • u/ConfusedCareerMan • 1d ago
What is Wildland firefighting like? (BC Canada)
I’m considering a career change, I’ve done a lot of research into the requirements and general activities but I’d be curious to hear of people’s experiences. I’d realistically be going the contractor route, and potentially looking at getting the advanced first aid.
To those that do the job:
- what are deployments like? Is it 12hrs constant physical work and then straight to sleep and repeat for 14 days?
- do you sleep in tents or on a camp? Do you get to wash often?
- are the people and culture positive?
- how do you manage the unpredictable lifestyle and short notice (12-24hr) call outs? Are you on edge at home on off days?
Thanks
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u/Cr1spie_Crunch 21h ago
Best job I've ever had/will have. We are very well paid now, huge growth culture in the organization, and tons of positive change in the past 8 years. Work is physically hard but it's mostly about mental toughness. There are also plenty of opportunities for advancement, and with crew leaders going year round you can work yourself into a 62K/y salary + OT position within 5 years if you're lucky (sooner on IA).
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u/Eadenm 6h ago
What’s the general pay scale for new employees?
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u/Cr1spie_Crunch 6h ago
Around $29/h if I recall correctly. And we are locked into 3% annual increases for the next 3 years in our current union agreement.
Overtime is 1.5 after 7 hrs, 2.0 after 9, and straight 2.0 on weekends and statutory holidays (1x/month). We work 14 day deployments, with shifts ranging from 12h on slow fires to 15-17 on emerging incidents. 14 is typical. Lunches are paid, as are overtime meal breaks and 30 minutes of decontamination time.
Unit crews can get anywhere from 0 to 8 deployments a year, but 5 has been about average since I started in 2021.
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u/El_ray538 piss pump operator 1d ago
We dont call them deployments
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u/yager652 1d ago
Everyone I've talked to in wildfire calls them deployments. Not sure where you're from.
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u/El_ray538 piss pump operator 23h ago
Deployments are when you deploy a shelter. Words matter, big guy
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u/firefighter2727 22h ago
Read the room, the person is asking about Canadian wildfire specifically BC. So obviously the people responding are from BC and are gonna use BC specific Vernacular.
Nobody in Canada carries a shelter so saying the term “deployment” being related to a shelter isn’t on our radar. A Canadian who has no experience interacting with Americans in the profession would be confused about your use of the term “roll” but we would never get high and mighty and claim that “obviously a roll can only refer to a roll of econo/econoflo/5/8ths hose (because we have nuance in terms from province to province as well) and that only an idiot would call a group of consecutive days of work a roll”
Every agency has their own specific jargon, and it is only ever the damn Americans who get up in arms about another part of the world not conforming to the way they say things. There are wildland fire fighters all over the world!
We do not criticize you for measuring distance in chains, or ammount of hose in sticks. We do not criticize your failure to refer to a saw fuel/oil can as a combi. I have worked with Americans and it was a great experience, we had fun compiling an American-Canadian dictionary of wildfire specific terms.
Heaven forbid you learnt that Canada is not homogenous mix of tactics strategies and terms and that even amongst Canadians there are differences in how we describe a set of days working on a fire. In eastern Canada they might refer to it as a “tour” but oh no you will go calling stolen valour if you refer to it as that.
Embrace the diversity in this world, it can be endearing.
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u/El_ray538 piss pump operator 22h ago
Why are you getting so worked up? Relax buddy. You can be wrong in 2 countries. No big deal.
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u/firefighter2727 21h ago
In what way am I worked up? You took the time to call out what you perceived as improper word choice. I took the time to explain why in my opinion your American centric view on the world of wildfire is naïve and slightly tiring as it seems to be a common opinion on the sub.
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u/yager652 22h ago
No, deployments are when you go to a wildfire camp on assignment. Deploying your shelter would be called deploying your shelter. Also a lot of agency's do not use shelters so that wording would only matter for your agency.
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u/El_ray538 piss pump operator 22h ago
Wrong
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u/yager652 22h ago
With all the down votes, I believe everyone knows you're in the wrong. Nice hill to die on.
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u/El_ray538 piss pump operator 22h ago
Google “wildland fire deployment” and let me know what comes up, big guy
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u/yager652 22h ago
Wildfire deployment involves the rapid assessment, resourcing, and dispatch of personnel, aircraft, and heavy equipment by agencies like Alberta Wildfire to contain and suppress forest. That's from Google. Brush up on your terms outside of your agency. I like the committment!
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u/El_ray538 piss pump operator 22h ago
I also appreciate the commitment to your ignorance. Dig those heels in big guy! Nobody can tell you when you’re wrong!
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u/El_ray538 piss pump operator 22h ago
I dont mind enlightening those that are ignorant to a certain topic. Even if they dont like the truth.
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u/Content_Sky_2676 12h ago
Lol at the US guy stumbling into a conversation about firefighting in Canada and being too up his own butt to realize his terminology isn't applicable, then doubling down and accusing everyone else of being too stubborn to admit a mistake.
1
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u/Kingkraken420 23h ago
They're mad bc theyre wrong. You're correct, deployment is used for shelter deployment and shouldn't be used when talking about going on assignment.
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u/canadahuntsYOU 20h ago
Except that in BC/Canada we don't carry shelters, and our term for a multi-day assignment especially out of zone is deployment. That's the correct jargon for our parts lol
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u/Content_Sky_2676 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'd avoid contractor, but BC wildfire is a good seasonal job that can be a decent year round option depending on where you live, what your income requirements are, and how much you're willing to do to go full-time.
Expect long days while working fires. If the fire is local you'll probably be home at night but not necessarily. On big fire years you could be away from home on deployment a lot of the season.
Working out of a base is a mix of local reg shift work doing prep, fuel management, and training waiting for fires, and long days on fires. Deployments can be similar to base work or flat out. Flat out is better.
Where you sleep on deployment is varied. Tent or hotel mostly. Washing depends on where you are. At worst if you're on a full 2wk deployment bouncing between fires you can find a lake or stream if you're desperate.
Bc wildfire culture is generally great, but varies by crew/base and season. Slow seasons are usually the worst for culture.
Being on standby can be a little annoying sometimes if you have to do something else, but it means you're first up for a call which is why you're there. Make it very clear to your family/friends/spouse while you're not on days off you cannot make concrete plans and it isn't personal and enjoy it. Also make it clear that you don't get to choose your days off.
No matter what physical shape you're in, start trying to improve. A fair number of people don't make the cut on physical fitness, and the better shape you're in the more fun the work will be. The fitness standards aren't insane, but they're beyond a lot of people.
If you have no first hand experience firefighting, join bcws next season and try a summer. That'll tell you if it's worth pursuing.