The ministry’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) program has begun hiring crews in Ontario for this year’s upcoming fight against forest fires – nearly one month before the season technically begins. In an email to SooToday, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry spokesperson Sarah Fig said they hope this move helps “ensure we are prepared to respond should fires occur before the fire season begins” on April 1.
But as recruitment and retention issues remain atop the biggest concerns for OPSEU – the union which represents fire rangers – veteran workers within the program don’t feel they’re prepared to adequately defend communities from inevitable blazes. “It’s unheard of to start this early,” said Noah Freedman, a ninth-year forest fire crew leader. “I’ve talked to some older guys, and the earliest they had seen the fire season start was late-March. Getting called in that early is nuts.” In addition to his role as a crew leader, Freedman is also vice-president of OPSEU Local 70
Ontario Ministry Forest Fires Hiring Crew Fire Season Recruitment Retention Concerns Union Fire Rangers
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