In the past five years, more of B.C. has burned than in the previous 50 years. Extreme fire behaviour and activity are becoming increasingly common, and wildfire is now one of the most pressing issues on the planet.
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is seeking to address this challenge through TRU Wildfire, an initiative that includes a partnership with the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) and aims to help society better prevent, prepare for and respond to wildfires.
In April 2024, Premier David Eby announced this unique partnership between TRU and the BC Wildfire Service in response to the unprecedented impact of wildfire on B.C. communities. It’s the first established one-to-one partnership between a fire management agency and a university in North America.
TRU has worked with BCWS on three major outcomes.
First, create a clear career pathway for those interested in careers in wildfire. Work in wildfire is often considered seasonal work, but there are long-term career options. Through TRU Wildfire, it’s envisioned that individuals will have access to enhanced training and learning opportunities, ranging from basic skills training to formal academic credentials.
To be better prepared for future wildfire challenges, BCWS said that we need to support our wildfire professionals — from new recruits through to leadership roles — and demonstrate that wildfire can be a long-term career choice. Additionally, partnering with TRU to build upon our training capacity will go a long way toward developing and supporting future wildfire professionals.
The second goal is to establish wildfire studies as an independent and distinct academic discipline — a first in Canada.
It’s hoped that one day, students from across Canada will have access to the following at TRU: certificates, diplomas, undergraduate and graduate degrees that will encompass wildfire science, community and social resilience, health and wellness, and Indigenous fire stewardship.
“What we’re trying to do is not just create a degree but create a whole area, a discipline of study, said Shannon Wagner, TRU vice president of research. “It’s time to give recognition that this is one of the quintessential issues of our time and we need to resource it and pay attention to it the same way we would any other social issue that exists in society.”
The province recently approved five wildfire-related certificates at TRU, and the university expects three will be ready to start in September 2025.
The third goal in the TRU and BCWS partnership is to create an ecosystem that invites all wildfire stakeholders.
“In other jurisdictions, you see interesting and exciting initiatives that address wildfire, but this is the first time where an educational institution and a response agency have come together to focus on all four components of research, education, training and innovation,” said Wagner.
Linking these four areas is important because it means research informs practice, and vice versa, promoting rapid integration of operational knowledge and scientific findings in the field. Beyond that, linking research, education, training and innovation creates opportunities for interaction and collaboration between those working in wildfire-impacted industries, researchers, faculty and students, and wildfire leaders, sparking innovative ideas and solutions.
“The approach we’re taking is comprehensive and broad, thinking about all the different pieces that connect to wildfire and all the people that need to come together,” said Wagner. “We’re all working together to find meaningful solutions to this very pressing challenge and it’s going to be transformative as we move forward.”
Learn more at tru.ca/wildfire.
Submitted by Erin Breden. She is the senior communications consultant at Thompson Rivers University