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Wildland Firefighting & Silviculture Training

Ready to find your niche in British Columbia's growing natural resource sector?

BC Female Wildland Firefighter

This 8-week, fully funded, field-based forestry program could be for you! Stillwater Consulting's Wildland Firefighting & Silviculture Training program introduces participants to a variety of possible career paths in natural resources, including Wildland Firefighting and other field-based forestry work. Covering 16 valuable industry certifications in just 8 weeks, participants will gain skills, support and connections to launch a fulfilling career in BC’s natural resource industry.

Program Details

Next intakes

  • Cranbrook, BC, Start date May 12, 2025

  • Prince George, BC Start date May 12, 2025

Eligibility Requirements

  • Open to unemployed or precariously employed individuals

  • Must live in the East Kootenay or Prince George regions

  • Participants must also self-identify as facing two or more of the following barriers to employment: 

    • Mental health challenges

    • Housing instability

    • Lack of recent and/or Canadian work experience

    • Lack of basic employment skills

    • Limited literacy, financial literacy, or digital literacy skills

    • Limited English language skills

    • Having less than a Grade 12 education

    • Recovering from addiction

    • Prior criminal justice involvement

    • Being a(n):

      • Recent Immigrant, Refugee, Visible Minority; or

      • Young Adult at Risk; or

      • Older Worker; or

      • Survivor of Violence and/or Abuse; or

      • Person with Disabilities

Potential Employment Outcomes

This program prepares graduates for a wide range of employment opportunities ranging from equipment operation to field work. Examples of jobs our past students have gone on to be successful in have included (but are not limited to):

  • Junior Forestry or Environmental Technician

  • Recreation Trail Building & Maintenance

  • Wildland Firefighting

  • Equipment Operator

  • Fuels Management & Reduction

  • Tree Planting (including Crew Boss & Tree Runner)

  • Danger Tree Assessor

  • Tree Nursery Worker

  • Forestry Field Studies, including: Species Identification and Basic Ecology, Forest Essentials, Map, Compass & Field Communications, Silviculture, Forest Health, GPS, GIS & Data Collection, Fuels/Waste Management, Helicopter Safety, Layout, Forest Operations, Fire Behaviour, Invasive Species, Radio Communications, and Tree Planting.

  • Occupational First Aid - Level 1 & Transportation Endorsement

  • Danger Tree Assessor - Qualified Persons (DTA)

  • Basic Chainsaw Operator

  • Basic Brush Saw, Brushing and Thinning Training

  • S100 - Basic Fire Suppression and Safety

  • S185 - Fire Entrapment Avoidance

  • ICS100 - Incident Command

  • S211 - Fire Weather

  • S212 - Wildfire Communications

  • S232 - Portable Pumps and Water Delivery Systems

  • S230 - Introduction to Supervision

  • S235 - Ignition Operations

  • Bear Aware

  • Canadian Safety Council ATV and UTV Off-Road Vehicle Operation

  • BC Hydro Utility Tree Worker

  • Pesticide Applicator – Agriculture General Certification

For all you that have an interest in forestry, or want to attempt wildland firefighting, or just want to expand your knowledge and skills and try something new. This program has been one of my greatest experiences. Great facilitators and instructors - in 8 short weeks I had a resume built full of certificates. I left feeling confident and driven, with skills and certificates I never thought I would hold. Stillwater provides you with lots of hands-on experience to help you move forward with the knowledge you learn in the classroom and out in the field.

 Scott,

Wildland Firefighting & Silviculture Training Graduate

Next Steps

Applying for this fully-funded training program involves several steps:

  • Review the eligibility requirements above to determine if you are a fit for this program

  • Register for an upcoming information session to have all your questions answered​

  • Complete the interest form at the bottom of this page

  • Once you receive an email from us, complete the detailed online application form

  • Successful applicants will be contacted for a virtual interview with Stillwater staff

  • 12 interviewees per region will be selected for the program and go through final approvals before starting

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WFST Form

Take the Next Step

Complete the form below to express your interest in this training. If we are actively recruiting in your region, we will send you an invitation to complete a detailed application form. Please add wfst@stillwaterconsultingltd.com to your safe senders list to ensure you receive this email.

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