Communities respond to in-community wildfire training
Demand for Thompson Rivers University’s (TRU) federally funded in-community wildfire training has taken off, bringing the program within reach of its goal to train 260 wildland firefighters well ahead of schedule.
In spring 2025, TRU, in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, received nearly $1.7 million from Natural Resources Canada through the federal Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate – Training Fund to support local wildfire readiness. Delivered over three years, the funding supports in-community wildfire training delivery to strengthen response capacity for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.
This year, TRU will support the training of 224 wildland firefighters in 10 communities before the end of March 2026.
Based on current participation and application trends, the program is well on track to surpass its original training goals of training up to 260 wildland firefighters over the full three-year period. Applications for the final 2026–27 funding cycle are already being received, underscoring both sustained interest and the ongoing need for accessible, year-round wildfire training.
For participants, the impact is immediate and practical.
“Having this training means being able to attack interface wildland fires before they grow when sometimes help can be days away,” said Nathan Combs of the Gitanmaax Band in Hazelton, B.C. “TRU is doing an incredible service to small, rural and Indigenous communities like ours.”
Combs said in-community delivery made a critical difference for his department.
“We got to stay close to home for all the training, which is important as we are the first responders in our community and having us all home makes for a safer community,” he said. “We were able to discuss real-world situations that are relevant to our community, and our small fire department now has the skills and knowledge to feel like we can make a big impact in community protection when it comes to wildfires.”
By removing cost barriers and bringing advanced training directly into communities, the program helps build local capacity and resilience, particularly in areas where external resources may be limited or delayed. The federal funding also supports applied research within TRU Wildfire, helping ensure training evolves alongside emerging knowledge and innovation.
“The demand we are seeing speaks to the importance of training people right where they live and work,” said Shannon Wagner, vice-president, research. “TRU is helping build local capacity where it matters most, and this work reflects our commitment to applied learning, community partnerships and strengthened local readiness and resilience in a changing climate.”
“As extreme weather intensifies across Canada, communities need strong, local capacity to respond to the growing threat of wildfires. By investing in practical training efforts like those at Thompson Rivers University, the Government of Canada is ensuring more people gain the critical skills needed to reduce wildfire risks and protect Canadian communities,” said Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
Participants come from rural, remote and Indigenous communities and must meet eligibility criteria. More information and the application form are available at tru.ca/wildfire.
TRU Wildfire is a university-wide initiative advancing research, education, training and innovation to address current and future wildfire challenges. Learn more.
Thompson Rivers University is leading in sustainability. Learn more about TRU’s contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.