BC Wildfire Service firefighters return after efforts in Australia

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Members of the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) have returned after helping Australia with wildfire-fighting efforts. 

According to a news release by the Ministry of Forests on March 1st, BCWS firefighters have returned after supporting Forest Fire Management Victoria in Australia for the past month with wildfire-fighting efforts.

BCWS deployed 37 people on January 25th to the state of Victoria to help respond to the Walwa River Road fire and provide support at the Tallangatta Incident Control Centre.

Australia requested B.C.’s support through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC). 

BCWS sent 15 people in an incident management team, 20 fire crew and two agency representatives. 

Ravi Parmar, B.C. minister of forests, said: “Our world-class BC Wildfire Service has once again stepped up on the global stage. 

“As we prepare for the 2026 wildfire season, our BCWS crews consistently demonstrate exceptional skills, courage and professionalism wherever they’re called to serve.”

In preparation for the 2026 wildfire season, the province said it is focusing on prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, which it calls its four pillars of emergency management. 

In the 2025 wildfire season, BCWS firefighters tackled nearly 200 wildfires in northeast B.C., while the province saw 1,350 blazes in total. 

In April, First Nations bootcamps will start in several fire centres, along with new-recruit bootcamps in Merritt.