More than a dozen wildfires have been reported in Ontario and the union representing wildland firefighters says its crews are still short about 25 per cent of their staff.
As of April 29, there have been 14 wildfires in Ontario. This compares to two fires recorded at the same time last year.
“I think what we’re seeing is really higher than normal fire activity in the spring months,” Gordon McBean, professor of geography and environment at Western University, told CTV News Toronto. “We’ve had a relatively warm winter.”
The ten-year average of forest fires reported as of April 29 in a year is 12.
Noah Freedman, vice-president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 703 and leader of the provincial wildland fire team, said the province is still short about 25 per cent of its firefighting personnel.
“Ontario is supposed to have 800 firefighters, which is 200 fire crews,” Freedman told CTV News Toronto. “The more teams we have, the more incidents people can respond to at the same time. “It’s not unusual in a bad fire season to have… 12 fires in an area when you wake up in the morning.”
“If you don’t have enough, you have to decide what burns and what doesn’t.”
A spokesperson for the Office of the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry says 630 firefighter positions have been filled and said it was “well within” their recruiting range.
“Hiring and onboarding will continue throughout April and May,” Melissa Candelaria said in a statement.
Resources need to be doubled in 20 years: Union
The province has committed to hiring 100 permanent positions within the wildfire program, however it is unclear what those recruits will do.
When asked by CTV News Toronto, the government said “work is underway to finalize what the program will look like.”
“These positions will help develop leadership and expertise within our wildfire program by adding new year-round positions that will support career opportunities for game wardens and other staff.”
Officials say they are working to fill positions as quickly as possible and that hiring will begin in the coming months.
“The increase in firefighter positions and incentives reflects our ongoing efforts to strengthen Ontario’s wildfire program, rather than stating specific expectations for this fire season,” Candelaria said.
“This is part of a series of changes the government has made to provide more support to firefighters and the northern communities that rely on them.”
The Progressive Conservatives have also offered up to $5,000 in retention incentives for critical support, aviation and frontline fire positions to support the 2024 fire season. However, Freedman says those incentives have become quite divisive, as they do not everyone receives the full amount.
“What ended up happening was that they decided that certain people were more valuable than others. “Some people get a $5,000 bonus and some get a $1,000 bonus, and that has created quite a bit of animosity among the staff.”
Freedman suggests Ontario may need to double its firefighting resources in the next 20 years if the climate trajectory continues as it is.
“If something happens, we are not prepared,” he said.
McBean noted that fires and weather from previous years may have an impact on the upcoming wildfire season.
“Although 2023 was the warmest year on record, the general feeling is that 2024 could again be at least as warm, if not warmer.”
Earlier this month, Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan warned that Ontario, as well as Alberta and British Columbia, could face a longer crisis and “explosive” forest fire season.