FireWatch

FireWatch is a service that provides links to news stories from the fire community that have attracted our attention.

Thompson at crisis point on firefighter vacancies union.

Thompson at crisis point on firefighter vacancies union.

The Thompson Professional Firefighters Association raises concerns about escalating call volumes and stagnant staffing levels, warning of potential impacts on public safety. The fire department in the northern Manitoba city is currently short eight full-time members,...

Insurance rates soar for Traders Cove family after wildfire

Insurance rates soar for Traders Cove family after wildfire

After experiencing wildfires impacting three of their properties in 2023, a West Kelowna family now faces a steep rise in insurance costs. Despite making claims, their insurer dropped them, forcing them to seek coverage elsewhere. Only one company agreed to insure...

The US Needs Wildland Firefighters More Than Ever

The US Needs Wildland Firefighters More Than Ever

The US Needs Wildland Firefighters More Than Ever, but the Federal Government Is Losing Them - Black Butte, an inactive volcano in eastern Oregon, saw a group of United States Forest Service smokejumpers arrive by turboprop plane in May 2022. Among them was Ben...

BC issues first fire ban of the season as drought worry grows

BC issues first fire ban of the season as drought worry grows

BC issues the first fire ban of the season. The B.C. Wildfire Service has declared a prohibition on fires in the Cariboo region starting at noon on Thursday, March 28, citing "unusually dry conditions from fall through winter leading to heightened drought levels."...

Zombie Fires burning at an alarming rate in Canada

Zombie Fires burning at an alarming rate in Canada

The remains of last year's wildfire season in Canada persist even during the harsh winter. Zombie fires, hidden beneath thick layers of snow, are actively burning at an alarming rate, causing concerns about the potential challenges the upcoming summer might bring. BBC...

Government should prep for fires given low snowpack

Government should prep for fires given low snowpack

The 2024 wildfire season will begin in just a few months. A consensus among studies forecasting future fire potential in B.C. agrees that wildfires will persist in their growth throughout the 21st century due to rising temperatures. The record-breaking wildfire season...

Recieve our FireWatch Newsletters

* indicates required
Company/Department