Boot Camp: BC Wildfire Service's New Recruits

0:00Over 200 new recruits are grinding through bootcamp at the BC Wildfire Service Training Center in Merit, gearing up for what could be. Another brutal fire season, they're hitting the basics hard, laying hoses, digging fire breaks, running pumps, and tackling fitness tests that mirror the chaos of real wildfires. All packed into a full week of non-stop action. Recruits like 20-year-old Leila from Kimberly are pushing past their limits, with bandaged hands from hauling up to 150 pounds of, gear up steep hills, yelling motivation to keep going amid the exhaustion. This surge in interest follows years of devastating fires, prompting the province to ramp up staffing, and even launch specialized First Nations camps, though not everyone makes the cut due to injuries or second thoughts. Successful grass joins season crews through October, or longer if fires rage on, chasing dreams of full-time careers protecting their home turf. That's your Canada News Today update, AI-powered, and always on.