Burned out: Former B.C. wildfire fighters worry safety at risk as experienced workers leave [Video]

One part gasoline, three parts diesel is a common mixture in a drip torch — that steel, spouted can firefighters use to start controlled burns and deprive wildfires of fuel.

B.C. wildfire fighter Dylan Bullock didn’t like the look of his mixture on July 7, 2021 — the day of what the 34-year-old refers to as “the incident.” It was the sort of mishap where fatigue plays a role, something former firefighters fear will increase as people grow weary and leave the B.C. Wildfire Service, as the 10-year veteran Bullock did in 2023.

“I don’t feel good about that,” he told CBC Radio. “But I also know how I felt at the end of last season.”

At a time when B.C. needs wildfire fighters most, the service is struggling to retain experienced workers amid longer and harsher fire seasons. Some who have left say that as seasoned firefighters burn out, …

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