Firefighters dealing with wildfires in B.C. are facing the challenge of longer, harsher fire seasons – and that means many seasoned workers are burnt out, while newer ones take their place, increasing the safety risk to everyone.
In a CBC article, B.C. wildfire fighter Dylan Bullock described his feeling that his crew was under-resourced — not enough people, pumps or helicopters. He suffered severe burns after one workplace “incident” that left him on life support for six days, before a slow recovery.
And after the 2023 fire season — British Columbia’s worst — Bullock left his job. In all, eight firefighters died on the job countrywide last year, including six in B.C., says the CBC.