Aviation & Forest Fire Management - Top FAQ

Fighting forest fires is hard work. Fire fighters can work under dangerous conditions. The Ministry of Natural Resources puts the safety of our fire fighters first. All fire fighters complete basic training (S-100) and must also obtain first aid certification before they go near a forest fire. In general the basic training includes:

• Personal and fire line safety
• Chainsaw safety
• Fire behaviour
• Fire suppression techniques and methods
• Operating pumps and hoses
• Helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft safety
• Fire line communications

After they are hired, fire fighters must complete yearly maintenance training packages and may also qualify, after some years of experience, for training for specialized positions such as Crew Boss and Initial Attack Fire Boss.

In addition, MNR has implemented a physical fitness standard (See Pre-Fit) for its fire fighters, which results in higher productivity and fewer accidents.

Before you can apply for a job as a seasonal fire fighter with the Ministry of Natural Resources, or a private company under contract to us, you must first have successfully completed the training course S-100.

This 40-hour entry-level course will prepare you for the role of a forest fire crewmember. You have to arrange to take and pay for this course yourself. A number of private agencies have been accredited by MNR to provide the S-100 course.

You must be 18 years old before either MNR or a fire crew contractor can hire you as a crewmember.

On average, there is a 20%-30% turnover rate annually within the FireRangers force. To apply for any of these vacancies, applications must be submitted to the Fire Management Supervisor at the MNR District Fire Management Headquarters where you would like to work. Firefighters are hired through these offices only and hiring usually occurs during February and March. Applicants can apply to as many of the HQ's as they wish.

For more information check out our Fire Fighter Information page.

Each year in Ontario, dozens of rural residents and cottagers damage forest lands and lose valuable buildings because of fires that could have been prevented. Always consider chipping or composting first over burning brush or grass.

If you live in a municipality, check with the local municipal office or fire department: you may be required to get municipal permission to burn or you may be required to take your woody debris to an approved disposal site.

If you do burn your woody debris, follow these rules:

• Only burn piled wood, brush, leaves, grass or discarded wood by-products.
• The material is in a pile less than 2 metres across and 2 metres high.
• Burn between 2 hours before sunset and 2 hours after sunrise.
• A responsible person must tend the fire from start to finish.
• The fire must be at least 2 metres from any flammable materials, i.e. structures, trees.
• The person tending the fire must have tools or enough water on site to control the fire.
• For more information click here: Rules for Outdoor Burning

When the Ministry of Natural Resources puts a fire ban in place (Restricted Fire Zone Order), we immediately put a notice on our website under Current Restricted Fire Zones. We also inform affected municipalities directly and notify the public through the news media (radio, newspapers, TV). Organized municipalities often put fire bans in place before MNR declares a Restricted Fire Zone Order, so check with your municipality before you do any burning.