In May, wildfires swept through Manitoba, marking the beginning of a challenging fire season that led to the evacuation of 32,000 residents from their homes. Investigations by CBC have revealed that during this critical period, the province faced a shortage of fire rangers, with a quarter of its wildfire division roles unfilled.
According to documents obtained through freedom of information laws, as of May 12, approximately 25% of the full-time positions within the Wildfire Service were vacant, along with 64 seasonal fire ranger positions that remained unfilled.
Among the 15 full-time vacancies were key roles such as three fire managers, six fire operations managers, and a regional fire technician. Operations managers play a crucial role in overseeing various aspects of the province’s wildfire management program, including prevention, detection, and fire suppression operations.
Specific positions like the operations manager responsible for managing the province’s air attack program had been vacant since April 2024. Similarly, the managers in charge of equipment purchases and developing the wildfire mitigation plan had been vacant since 2023.
Government records indicate a recurring challenge for the Wildfire Service in filling its budgeted fire ranger seasonal positions annually.
Jesse Guenther, co-owner of Nopiming Lodge, vividly recalls being given just a two-hour notice to evacuate on May 12 when a massive wildfire, spanning about 5,000 hectares, ravaged Nopiming Provincial Park.
Despite being impressed by the swift response of fire crews that ensured everyone’s safe evacuation, Guenther questioned the numerous vacancies, emphasizing the importance of better preparedness for escalating wildfire seasons.
The aftermath of the wildfires resulted in the closure of most campgrounds at Nopiming Provincial Park for the remainder of the summer, severely impacting businesses like Guenther’s lodge.
Planned for 301 Seasonal Fire Rangers
While the Wildfire Service had allocated funding for 301 seasonal fire rangers in 2025, only 237 had been hired by the onset of the wildfires, as per records. The number of fire rangers remained stagnant throughout the wildfire season, as indicated by union records.
Kyle Ross, the president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, lamented the consequences of understaffing during a demanding fire season, emphasizing the essential role fire rangers play in containing wildfires and safeguarding communities.
The 2025 wildfire season in Manitoba stood out as the most severe in three decades, with over 430 wildfires burning more than 2.1 million hectares of land and displacing over 32,000 individuals from their homes.
Addressing the issue of low pay for fire rangers, Ross noted that Manitoba offers lower wages compared to other provinces, making recruitment a challenging task.
Fire rangers, also known as wildland firefighters or fire management officers, play a crucial role in preventing and managing wildfires to ensure public safety and protect natural resources in forested areas, according to Manitoba Government guidelines.
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