Wildfire Service


To Report a Wildfire

1-800-782-0076 (toll-free)

*this is to report a fire not for local information

Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Wildfire Service is responsible for the prevention, detection and suppression of wildfires. The program manages all human and equipment resources needed for fighting wildfires in the province. Staff monitor weather patterns, lightning strikes, soil moisture and forest conditions to determine the probability and location of wildfires.

Manitoba's Wildfire Service works in close cooperation with other forest fire fighting agencies and jurisdictions. Equipment and other resources are shared through the Canadian Inter Agency Forest Fire Centre and the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact.

Current Wildfire Information

Collecting and sharing wildfire information enables residents and visitors to Manitoba to make safe work, travel, and recreational decisions throughout Manitoba's forested and wildland urban interface (WUI) areas. Current wildfire activity and hazard levels can be found in the links below.

Current Wildfire Weather Information

Manitoba's Wildfire Service operates 47 fire weather stations located throughout the province. It also utilizes weather data from the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), Parks Canada, Manitoba Hydro, and Saskatchewan Wildfire Management. This information is used to predict and manage the occurrence and spread of wildfires. Fire weather information includes:

Archived Wildfire Information

Archived wildfire information is provided for your planning, research and operational needs. Whether you are planning a backcountry trip and require past wildfire locations, researching historical fire or weather events, or are a partner needing access to data, check the links below for relevant information.

Prevention / FireSmart

Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) is a term used in the wildfire community. It describes the areas where residential, industrial, or agricultural developments are located in a wildland setting with natural vegetation at risk of being impacted by wildfire.

Preventing and preparing for interface wildfires before they happen is one of the best ways to keep your community safe. FireSmart Canada® has developed a FireSmart Canada Community Recognition Program to guide communities in assuming responsibility for their neighbourhood's and community member's safety by recognizing the wildfire issues and taking the initiative to reduce the hazards. Community cooperation in the implementation of FireSmart concepts is important to most effectively prepare for wildfire in the Wildland/Urban Interface.

FireSmart begins at home. Home and property owners can reduce their risk of wildfire impacts by implementing FireSmart recommendations on building materials and vegetation. Homes, out buildings, trees, shrubs and grasses are all fuel to a wildfire but proper cleaning, thinning, and spacing can help reduce the danger of devastating wildfire losses.

Visit www.FireSmartCanada.ca for more information on FireSmart: Protecting Your Community From Wildfire, or the FireSmart Canada Community Recognition Program. Other useful FireSmart prevention resources are listed below.

Fire Employment

About the Career

Manitoba Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Wildfire Service is a seasonal employer of trained initial attack forest fire fighters at various locations throughout Manitoba. These employment opportunities would be of interest to both local residents of remote communities, as well as college/university students particularly those studying natural resource management. The major initial attack bases in the province that provide seasonal accommodations are Bissett (Eastern Region), Snow Lake (Northwest Region), and Paint Lake (Northeast Region). Smaller bases may lack accommodation facilities.

Employment Period: May through September (seasonal departmental employment subject to annual layoff)

Salary: Fire Ranger 2 (FR2), $1,528.80 - $1,634.40 bi-weekly ($19.11- $20.84/hr) , plus remoteness allowance if applicable.

  • Weekend premium of $1.25/hour paid for all hours worked on weekends
  • Overtime pay at 1.5 times regular hourly rate paid for all hours worked in excess of 8 hrs per day
  • Overtime pay at 2 times regular hourly rate paid for all hours worked on scheduled days off
  • All positions, unless otherwise specified, have automatic recall every year until you resign

Duties may include:

Under the direction of a Helitac Officer, District Supervisor, and/or the Crew leader, you will act as crew member on a 4 or 5 person initial attack forest fire fighting crew. Specifically, you will be:

  • Providing suppression action on forest fires utilizing helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, boats, vehicles or other ground transportation means
  • Using and maintaining forest firefighting equipment
  • Providing training and supervision to emergency fire fighters
  • Participating in employee training and development programs; and will be expected to participate in a mandatory daily fitness program
  • Assisting with maintenance and construction projects while not engaged in fire suppression
  • Required to perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

    Essential Qualifications

  • You must have previous experience in outdoor work involving manual labour.
  • Desired Qualifications

    • Experience in the use of small engine equipment, camping gear, and power tools.
    • Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills
    • Training in wildfire suppression
    • Experience and/or training in wildfire suppression
    • Knowledge of wildfire behaviour and fire weather
    • Experience flying in small fixed-wing aircraft and/or helicopters

    Conditions of Employment

    • Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
    • Must possess and maintain a valid full stage Class 5 Drivers Licence or equivalent (an Intermediate Manitoba Class 5 driver's licence is acceptable on a temporary basis. Candidates are expected to attain and maintain a full stage Class 5 driver's licence on a permanent basis)
    • Must maintain current certification in First Aid and CPR.
    • Must be physically capable of performing duties required of the position, and will be required to successfully pass the Canadian Physical Performance Exchange Standard for Type 1 Wildland Fire Fighters (WFX-FIT) fitness test
    • Must be willing and able to work weekends, overtime, and to be deployed provincially, inter-provincially, or internationally as/when required

APPLY HERE