fireman in uniform looking at forest after fire
Photo by IslandHopper X on Pexels.com

Firefighters battling an unprecedented wildfire season are receiving mental health support after the deaths of three firefighters and a helicopter pilot. 

Hundreds of active wildfires are burning across Canada, including 354 in British Columbia,195 in the Northwest Territories and 105 in Alberta, as of Friday. All four deaths were in those three regions, all in the last few weeks. 

“I think this will have a range of impacts on how it affects the crews and how it impacts everyone working in wildfire,” said Laura Creighton, staff development officer for the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS), about the deaths. 

“Anecdotally, it has been a very difficult, very trying time to navigate how best to support the local crews and local zone that are impacted.” 

Register to read the full article.

Register for free for:

  • Access to ten free articles per month
  • Our weekly roundup of top stories
  • Monthly newsletters on topics of your choice
Register

Subscribe for:

  • Unlimited article access each month
  • Crosswords and puzzles on Canadian holidays
  • Full newsletter access
Starting at $12 per month

Stephanie Babych is a journalist based in Calgary. She was a reporter for the Calgary Herald and Sun for four years, and is a graduate of Mount Royal University’s journalism program. During her time...