Jobs with Alberta Wildfire will now be posted on the Government of Alberta jobs website. Search for Wildfire or Wildfire Crew. Please visit regularly for our seasonal job ad postings.
Deadline for application: November 30
Applications are available online or can be obtained from any provincial government office. Indicate on your application which crew you are applying to.
NOTE: We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only individuals selected to proceed to the next hiring stage will be contacted (initially by email and then by phone). Due to the large volume of applicants, we regret that we cannot confirm your resume was received.
Updated: Oct 8, 2020
Wildfire Crew Member Training:
- Session #1 – March 22–28, 2022
- Session #2 – April 20–26, 2022
- Session #3 – April 23–29, 2022
- Session #4 – April 27–May 3, 2022
The wildfire crew member training course is held each year at the Hinton Training Centre in Hinton, Alberta. Job offers are extended upon successful completion
of the training.
- Instructors conduct continuous assessments of each candidate's attitude, competence, suitability, job knowledge, fitness level and ability to follow instructions
- Training includes both theory and practical in subjects such as:
- radio
- equipment use and maintenance
- map and compass reading
- firefighting methods
- fire weather/behaviour
- helicopter safety
- pump and power saw training
- Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- bear safety
- Candidates are subjected to stressful conditions with morning fitness classes at 0600 hours each day, seven days a week. There will be occasional evening lectures, written exams on fire theory, practical application and the use of firefighting
equipment.
- The candidate will gain basic knowledge, such as proper care and usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and helicopter operations.
- Safety is of the utmost importance. Anyone failing to display a safety-conscious attitude will not be accepted. The training is strenuous, and candidates will be assessed and selected in accordance to the above guidelines and to their
suitability for the program.
Pending training completion, crew members will report to their respective Wildfire Management Area, where they will live and work together in strategically placed
fire bases.
During a typical season, members may experience varied periods of fire action, which may include long days of sustained action on larger fire complexes. The remainder may include project work, proficiency training or deployment to other
regions to assist with fire suppression.
Crews will usually have trailer/bunkhouse accommodations. In some cases, members may be expected to cook for themselves. Members can also be based in tent camps
in remote locations and overnight on the fire line for up to 15 days in order to extinguish the fire. This may happen several times throughout a season.
Members are expected to supply sleeping bags, rain gear, adequate work clothing, running shoes, exercise clothing and personal items. Also required are chainsaw safety boots that are a minimum of 8” in height with aggressive soles with a lug pattern (ex. Vibram) and provide chainsaw protection for the toe, sole, ankle, and top of your foot (metatarsal).
The employment period will vary depending on the location. The approximate period may be from April 1 to October 31 and may be extended depending on the fire danger.
Due to the helicopter payload limitations, there may be a weight restriction for individuals accepted into the program.
Crews may be required to work a 15-day shift with six days off or a 10-day shift with four days off.
Crews will be expected to move and work throughout the province. Due to aircraft transportation limits, members are limited to 65 pounds (30.5 kg) of personal gear. This should consist of work gloves ,work clothing, sleeping bag, rain gear, running shoes, exercise clothing and personal items.
Updated: Jul 16, 2020