In May, wildfires swiftly swept through Manitoba, marking the beginning of a fire season that displaced 32,000 individuals from their residences. Reports obtained by CBC News under freedom of information laws uncovered that the province was facing a shortage of fire rangers, with 25% of wildfire division roles left unfilled. As of May 12, approximately one in four full-time positions within the Wildfire Service remained vacant, and an additional 64 seasonal fire ranger positions were yet to be filled.
Among the vacancies were critical roles such as fire managers, fire operations managers, and a regional fire technician. The responsibilities of operations managers encompass vital aspects of the province’s wildfire management program, including prevention, detection, and fire suppression operations.
The revealed records highlighted specific vacancies, including the operations manager responsible for overseeing the province’s air attack program since April 2024. Additionally, key managerial positions related to equipment purchases and wildfire mitigation planning had been vacant since 2023.
The inability to fill budgeted fire ranger seasonal positions has been a recurring challenge for the Wildfire Service each year, as indicated by information provided by a government spokesperson. Jesse Guenther, co-owner of Nopiming Lodge, expressed concerns over the lack of planning demonstrated by the province, especially when faced with emergencies like the wildfire that forced rapid evacuations.
Despite the impressive response by fire crews during the evacuation, Guenther questioned the high number of vacancies and unfilled positions. The aftermath of the wildfires led to the closure of most campgrounds at Nopiming Provincial Park for the remainder of the summer, significantly impacting businesses like Nopiming Lodge.
The records disclosed that although the Wildfire Service had allocated for 301 seasonal fire rangers in 2025, only 237 had been hired when the wildfires erupted. The union representing the rangers reported that the number of fire rangers remained at that level throughout the wildfire season.
Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, emphasized the challenges in recruiting fire rangers due to lower pay rates compared to other provinces. The recent wildfire season in Manitoba was the most severe in three decades, with numerous wildfires and a substantial evacuation toll.
In response to criticisms about low pay and recruitment difficulties, Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie acknowledged the need to address vacancies and enhance recruitment efforts for the upcoming season. Despite the strain on resources caused by the early start of the wildfire season and concurrent fire outbreaks in other provinces, Bushie commended the overall response to the wildfires as effective, indicating that the vacancies did not impede their ability to manage the situation.
A government spokesperson highlighted an improvement in the number of unfilled fire ranger positions compared to previous years, signaling progress in addressing the ongoing challenges in wildfire response. Efforts to collaborate with municipal and volunteer fire services, along with support from other provinces, contribute to the collective response to wildfires in Manitoba.