Can volunteers fill the gap - or does a more effective wildfire response demand more career firefighters?
Thank you for choosing Automatic Translation. Currently we are offering translations from English into French and German, with more translation languages to be added in the near future. Please be aware that these translations are generated by a third party AI software service. While we have found that the translations are mostly correct, they may not be perfect in every case. To ensure the information you read is correct, please refer to the original article in English. If you find an error in a translation which you would like to bring to our attention, it would help us greatly if you let us know. We can correct any text or section, once we are aware of it. Please do not hesitate to contact our webmaster to let us know of any translation errors.
Debate Grows Over Use of Volunteers and Reservists in Canada’s Wildfire Fight
As Canada battles its second-worst wildfire season on record, a growing debate is emerging over the role of volunteer firefighters and newly recruited wildfire reservists, according to an article on CNC News.
In Alberta, a provincial reservist program launched in 2024 has drawn roughly 80 sign-ups this year. Open to anyone over 18, the initiative offers a day and a half of training and a fitness test before deploying volunteers to assist in camps or tackle hot spots.
Forestry Minister Todd Loewen says the program gives residents a chance to help protect their communities during crisis.
But not everyone agrees. Wildland fire ecologist Bob Gray warns that limited training puts unseasoned volunteers at risk. “You’re potentially creating an incident inside of an incident,” he said, citing concerns over safety and fire behavior awareness.
The debate intensified after residents like Sean Gurnsey described defending their properties with little more than dirt and five-gallon pails before official crews arrived. “Hopefully people can be wise,” Gurnsey said. “But you should be allowed the decision whether or not you fight for your place.”
Australia’s volunteer-based model is often cited as a success, with trained civilians regularly responding to bushfires. Experts say Canada could learn from that system—but only if safety and support are prioritized.
With more than 8 million hectares burned this season and hundreds of fires still active, the question remains: Can volunteers fill the gap, or does wildfire response demand a fully professional force?
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License
Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data [2023], processed by Pierre Markuse
Massive fires in Québec, Canada (Lat: 53.33, Lng: -76.11) - 28 June 2023
Image is about 39 kilometers wide
Date: Taken on 28 June 2023
Source: Massive fires in Québec, Canada (Lat: 53.33, Lng: -76.11) - 28 June 2023
Author: Pierre Markuse
Flickr sets
Wildfires; Satellite imagery; Canadian Fires 2023; Sentinel
Flickr tags
sentinel; sentinel2; canada; québec; wildfire; smokeplume; smoke; fire; airquality; sentinelhub; quebec; landscape
Read more:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildfires-canada-volunteers-1.7618637
https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/international-support