The small northern BC villages of Smithers, Hazelton, and Telkwa are swarmed with red shirts and blue pants: the uniform of BC's Wildfire Service workers.

In 2018 and 2019, wildfires in the province raged, and it was only a year ago that a wildfire overtook the town of Lillooet, forcing hundreds of people out of their homes with little to no warning.

Jeff Walsh, a wildfire officer spoke about the need to be prepared, both as wildfire service workers in training (in New Recruit Boot Camp), but also for homeowners and residents, who often find themselves unprepared to evacuate when a fire strikes.

In the Bulkley Fire Zone (for Smithers, Telkwa, and Hazelton), there are crews located across the valley that are currently looking for new recruits, even though the BC Wildfire Service tries to fill most positions in the winter, so that the majority of new trainees are prepared for the hot, dry seasons of the summer months.

The Wildfire Service is preparing for the 2022 season by ensuring all crews have enough workers for the "calm before the storm", this quiet time of the season before fires typically begin.

Listen to Dan Mesec's interview with Jeff Walsh below.