The 2025 B.C. Wildfire Service Cultural and Prescribed Fire Program completed burns across the province in partnership with First Nations and with the support of the B.C. Wildlife Federation.
BC Wildfire Service Update
By working together to restore fire to the landscapes of B.C., the healthy relationships we build with fire and with one another will continue to guide us toward a more resilient future.
All six BCWS Fire Centres supported successful spring burns in 2025, co-implementing 50 prescribed fire projects across the province which applied fire to more than 4,000 hectares. All projects were delivered in partnership with local governments, First Nations, and other community partners.
This year’s work represented the full suite of program objectives: fuel management, ecosystem restoration, cultural burning, wildlife habitat enhancement, and cross-training.
A key milestone in 2025 was the integration of prescribed fire operations into BC Wildfire Service’s Incident Manager software system. This upgrade supports better planning, coordination, and reporting for prescribed fire, while also aligning proactive fire management with BCWS operational tools.
Momentum continues to build for the Cultural and Prescribed Fire Program, with additional projects under development for Fall of 2025 and future years.
Training and Development
This year, the BC Wildfire Service, in collaboration with the First Nations Emergency Services Society and CR Professional, launched a pilot delivery of the S-244 Fire Effects Monitor/Field Observer course.
The first session was successfully held in May at the Cariboo Fire Centre in Williams Lake, where participants gained hands-on experience in the roles and responsibilities of Fire Effects Monitors (FEMO) and Field Observers (FOBS). Training included documenting environmental conditions, communicating observations, and understanding first-order fire effects.
Building on that success, a second pilot delivery will take place in Kelowna this October. Participant feedback from both offerings will help refine the course and guide future training opportunities. By developing specialized skills and strengthening partnerships, these pilot courses support the safe and effective use of cultural and prescribed fire across the province.
Stay Connected
You can visit and bookmark prescribedfire.ca and the BC Wildfire Service website for quick access to resources and more info.
Partnerships are the fuel that feeds our fire, and you can reach out to our team any time at BCWS.C&RxFire@gov.bc.ca.