On the Front Lines in Ontario’s Remote Interior: 5 Minutes With a Wildland Firefighter
5 MINUTES IN THE FIELD is a recurring segment featuring people making environmental change across Canada in all different fields.
Over the past few years, forest fires have been making headlines. While these natural events are essential to forest health, hotter temperatures globally are causing them to occur at an unnatural frequency and intensity—and Ontario is no exception to the rule.
This month, I wanted to find out what it’s like to be on the front lines fighting newsworthy wildfires —and the ones that you don’t hear about, yet are happening all the time. We’re joined by Ian Godfrey, a Wildland Firefighter based in Sudbury to share his experience being a first responder to fires in Ontario's remote wilderness.
Q: Wildland Firefighting is a challenging profession. What drew you to it?
A: Growing up in urban southern Ontario, I didn’t know a lot about the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNR) and how I could get involved. It wasn’t until I enrolled in Forestry at Fleming College that I found out about the Ontario Fire Rangers.
When I learned that I could be fighting huge wildfires, fly in helicopters, travel throughout Canada and camp in remote places for weeks at a time, I applied to every fire base in Ontario immediately! I was hired on by Sudbury Fire Management Headquarters and have worked there the past two seasons.
Godfrey taking a break after being part of the initial attack crew, meaning the first to arrive at a wildfire.
Q: Forest fires in Ontario happen all the time—yet many are unaware of them. What’s something you want Ontarians to know about wildfires?
A: Over the past decade, wildfires in Ontario have been getting larger, faster, and have been requiring more resources to get them under control. Forest fires have two main causes: lightning and humans. Knowing how to prevent and mitigate human-caused fires can drastically change the number of wildfires in Ontario each season, which runs from April to October.
Preventative practices include not burning during the day because things like dry grass, leaves, and leaf litter in the forest can readily ignite with just one ember. As well, being careful with motorized vehicles such as dirt bikes, ATVs and side-by-sides as their exhaust can shoot out flammable debris. It’s also important to be aware of fire safe practices and local fire bans in your area to avoid causing accidental damage and facing hefty fines.
Godfrey monitors a dump fire near Parry Sound to make sure it doesn’t spread to the surrounding forest.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience in the field?
A: I don’t think I can pick just one because I’ve experienced so many amazing things while working as a Fire Ranger. From being metres away from bears, moose, and deer, to seeing 300 foot flames torch off of trees and listening to wolves howl in the distance in the middle of the night from my tent are a few favourites.
Above all, the best part of my job is the rewarding feeling you get after putting a fire out. This job requires working hard for 16 hours a day— sometimes for for 14 days straight—to contain a massive wildfire that could have been life-threatening to remote communities. Being able to come home after a long deployment and know that you played a part in saving thousands of hectares of valuable forest, people’s homes, and even people’s lives is an unbeatable feeling. I’m grateful that I get to be a part of something so important.
Taken while observing smoke from a burn-off in Kenora, Ontario.
Did you know you can track wildfires as they happen? Click here to use the Forest Fire Info Map.
Ian Godfrey holds a diploma in Forestry from Fleming College and is currently in his second season with the Ontario Fire Rangers. He recently added a Smokey the Bear tattoo to his collection. What could we expect?
