As wildfires rage, debate grows over role of volunteers and reservists
Alberta reservist program created in 2024; roughly 80 people signed up this year
As Canada grapples with its second-worst wildfire season on record, could more volunteer firefighters and wildfire reservists be helpful in addressing out-of-control fires in the future?
The answer may eventually emerge in Alberta as that province launched a wildfire reservist program in 2024.
The provincial government's program allows anyone to sign up to help fight fires. Forestry Minister Todd Loewen said those who are 18 and older who sign up get a day and a half of training and undergo a fitness test. They can help out in firefighter camps or work on hot spots. Reservists get paid during training and if they are deployed.
Sean Gurnsey said he plans to sign up next year.
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"The general feeling is, hey, if we can help somebody not to go through their worst day, I mean, that would be a good thing for us to do," he said.
In May 2023, wildfires started to burn near Gurnsey's property in rural Alberta. He didn't think twice about jumping into action even though he had no firefighting experience. He and his family used what they had to fight the flames approaching the family property north of Peers, Alta., roughly 175 kilometres west of Edmonton.
"We were trying to fight it with whatever we had — dirt, a couple skid steers, pails, five-gallon pails," Gurnsey said.
Sean Gurnsey and his family jumped into action when a wildfire approached their home north of Peers, Alta., in May 2023. (Peter Evans/CBC)
The property was saved thanks in part to a contingent of relatives and neighbours who stepped up to help.
"It was a 24-hour period before we saw official firefighters," Gurnsey said.
During the 2023 wildfires, many Albertans defied evacuation orders so they could stay and defend their properties.
"People,… especially when they're evacuated from their community, they really want to be involved," Loewen said. "Their lives are already disrupted and they want to be involved and help where they can.
"We want to make sure that that opportunity's available for them."
Alberta Forestry Minister Todd Loewen said wildfire reservists receive a day and a half of training. (Peter Evans/CBC)
Roughly 100 people signed up for the program in 2024 and approximately 80 signed up in 2025, according to a ministry spokesperson.
Despite the lower numbers, Loewen said the program will continue.
"There needs to always be an opportunity for people to help, and we appreciate the help," he said.
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The Australian model
An ocean away, Australia leans heavily on volunteers to fight wildfires.
In the state of Victoria, the Country Fire Authority — a volunteer service — is responsible for responding to fires outside city centres, including bush fires.
Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said volunteers with the service receive nationally recognized training and have full workers' compensation coverage, but they do not receive financial compensation.
"A lot of people volunteer to look after their own property, their neighbour and their friends down the road," he said.
"Other people do it because they have a need and a want to give back to community and feel that volunteering as part of their local fire service is a way to give back."
Volunteers help fight fires in rural parts of the state of Victoria in Australia. (Credit: Country Fire Authority)
Heffernan suggested he believes the model has its merits.
"It works for the communities that we do have," he said. "We deploy interstate regularly. We have the ability to be able to pull that together. And I think there's lessons to be learned.
"Don't discount the value that volunteering can bring."
Wildland fire ecologist raises concerns
Firefighting can be dangerous. Two wildland firefighters were killed in Canada in 2024. Wildland fire ecologist Bob Gray said he does not support volunteers working on wildfires.
"It's very, very dangerous work," he explained.
"You need people who are committed, who are going to make a career out of it, and you need to pay them for that. You need to compensate them for the risk they're putting themselves into."
When speaking about Alberta's reservist model, Gray said he has concerns about the length of training being a day and a half.
"That is not enough," he said. "You're putting people at risk. You're potentially creating an incident inside of an incident if you don't have trained, physically fit, qualified people on the fire line.
"They won't recognize the dangers [like] being able to understand fire behaviour, understanding actions and reactions."
Gurnsey said he believes local residents can bring valuable experience to a firefight, such as intimate knowledge of a region and a vested interest in their community.
While he acknowledged the possible dangers, he said people should be allowed to decide for themselves if they want to help.
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Gurnsey added he believes the additional manpower helps in a country as vast as Canada.
"I'm not encouraging recklessness," he said.
"Hopefully people can be wise. But you should be allowed the decision whether or not you fight for your place, for your neighbours, for your livelihood."
Other provinces in Canada are also exploring the use of volunteer firefighters.
According to the Interagency Forest Fire Centre, nearly eight million hectares have burned to date in Canada this wildfire season.
This article, originally published by CBC News on August 28, 2025, was written by Julia Wong.
Thumbnail credit to BC Wildfire/Reuters