As Manitoba prepares for next wildfire season, concerns rise around staffing vacancies

Manitoba wants to fill at least the same number of seasonal positions to battle wildfires in the province this year as in 2025, but there are concerns about filling all the jobs and making sure isolated communities have the resources they need to respond.

"It's unfortunate, but I think we are going to see another summer of evacuations affecting most of our communities in northern Manitoba if there isn't a proper response put in place to mitigate the effects of wildfires," said Alex McDougall, grand chief of Anisininew Okimawin, which represents the four Island Lake First Nations in northeastern Manitoba.

The province is recruiting for a number of roles in preparation for the wildfire season, with postings for at least eight jobs in February alone — including attack crew leaders, radio operators and warehouse staff. 

The province is planning to staff at least the same number of seasonal positions as last year, but the number of new hires will depend on how many candidates return to their positions, a spokesperson said.

McDougall is already concerned there won't be enough crews to tackle fires in northern Manitoba.

The Island Lake First Nations his tribal council represents were threatened during last year's wildfire season, forcing hundreds to leave their homes.

McDougall said firefighters working with the province were largely responsible for dousing the fires last year. But he argues the fires could have been brought under control sooner if the First Nations had enough trained residents and equipment of their own.

"It would have changed things dramatically," he said. 

The Island Lake area is isolated, with no road access during the summer. Flights were grounded several times because of heavy wildfire smoke last summer, McDougall said.

Getting first responders into the area was challenging, and Anisininew Okimawin has been in talks with Manitoba and the federal government to get wildland firefighting training for people living in Island Lake, he said.

"There's people that are there that are capable … if they had the right support to be able to respond," he said. "Something needs to change."

Right now, only a handful of Island Lake residents are trained to fight fires, McDougall said. If wildfires threaten the area again, the water pumps and local crews available won't be enough to battle them. 

"Our community members are desperately looking for ways to be part of that solution," he said.

"If there's that ability to employ local members … I don't think we'd be seeing evacuations at the level that we have recently."