The Get FireSmart Podcast

In this episode of the Get FireSmart Podcast, we're joined by Colleen Ross, a fire ecologist, burn boss, and 2026 Lynn Orstad Award recipient who has spent more than 30 years working with fire. Hosted by Courtenay Campbell, FireSmart Research Advisor with FNESS, this conversation traces Colleen's path from lighting hillsides along Idaho's Salmon River with a flare gun to leading prescribed burns alongside communities across southern BC. Along the way, she reframes a phrase we hear often: it isn't about bringing fire back, it's about bringing us back to fire. Colleen shares why she believes the biggest barrier to prescribed fire in Canada is ourselves, how mentorship and honest conversation build the confidence communities need, and why showing people the renewal that follows a burn matters as much as any headline. Listen for a candid, energizing look at what it takes to work with fire rather than only fight it.

• Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca
• Learn more about Colleen and her work: https://www.crprofessional.ca/ 
• Learn about Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire: https://prescribedfire.ca/ 
• Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://www.youtube.com/@firesmartbc 
• Learn about FNESS: https://www.fness.bc.ca/ 

Welcome back to Carrying the Fire: Indigenous Women Restoring the Land, a three-part Get FireSmart Podcast series about Indigenous women and their efforts to restore “good fire” to both land and community. For the third and final episode of the series, we listen to Samantha Draney, a proud member of the Skeetchestn Indian Band, as she speaks with host Jaci Gilbert of FNESS. Samantha’s story is one of reconnection: to land, to medicine, and to the powerful lineage of Indigenous women who have carried the fire before her. Wildfire seasons changed her work and her “why.” In burned areas, she found medicines like Arnica returning, setting the stage for a story about healing a relationship with fire, and helping a community do the same. It’s a story that shows us what it means to burn with purpose.

Links

Learn more about Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire: https://prescribedfire.ca/

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://www.youtube.com/@firesmartbc 

Learn more about FNESS: https://www.fness.bc.ca/

Welcome back to Carrying the Fire: Indigenous Women Restoring the Land, a three-part Get FireSmart Podcast series about Indigenous women and their efforts to restore “good fire” to both land and community. In episode two of this series, we hear from Darlene Vegh, a fire historian, a mapper of memory, and a proud Gitanyow First Nation Elder. For over three decades, she has documented the places where good fire once lived and where it must return. For Darlene, cultural burning is a remedy, creating mosaics that look more like pre-industrial forests: healthier fuels, more food, more medicine, and more life. During her conversation with host Jaci Gilbert of FNESS, she discusses how she’s bringing youth onto the land to learn safety, history, and hope, demonstrating that good fire has immense benefits when used with care. 

Links:

Learn more about Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire: https://prescribedfire.ca/

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://www.youtube.com/@firesmartbc 

Learn more about FNESS: https://www.fness.bc.ca/

Welcome to Carrying the Fire: Indigenous Women Restoring the Land, a three-part Get FireSmart Podcast series about Indigenous women and their efforts to restore “good fire” to both land and community. 

In part one of this series, we meet Ashley O’Neil, an experienced firefighter, burn boss, and proud member of ʔaq̓am, a Ktunaxa Nation near Cranbrook, BC. In her conversation with host Jaci Gilbert of FNESS, she outlines how cultural burning knowledge was interrupted by law and policy, and how listening to Elders across Nations rebuilt a living practice. Ashley also reflects on the importance of trust between agencies and Nations, and how this trust could support a potential hands-on training program in which structural and wildland firefighters learn about the importance of prescribed fire and cultural burning together. 

Links:

Learn more about Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire: https://prescribedfire.ca/

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://www.youtube.com/@firesmartbc 

In this episode of the Get FireSmart Podcast, guest host Dan Stevens, FireSmart Education and Outreach Coordinator at FNESS, sits down with David McIlwraith, FireSmart Coordinator for the Sunshine Coast Regional District, to explore what it really takes to build a wildfire-resilient community. Drawing from real-world examples and firsthand field experience, David shares some valuable lessons on the power of grassroots movements, community engagement, and adaptive problem-solving. From local organization collaborations to regional partnerships, this conversation covers what’s worked well, what’s been challenging, and why buy-in from both residents and decision-makers is essential for long-term success. Listen to hear some actionable insights and get inspired to make your community FireSmart, one step at a time.

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://www.youtube.com/@firesmartbc

In this episode of the Get FireSmart Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Kira Hoffman, Fire Ecologist and Researcher at the University of British Columbia, to explore what it means to live with fire in a changing climate. Hosted by FNESS FireSmart Researcher, Helena Marken, this conversation dives into the science of fire-adapted landscapes, the growing role of Indigenous-led fire stewardship, and the evolving impact of climate change on wildfire behaviour in Canada. Dr. Hoffman shares her passion for prescribed fire, her insights from community-based projects, and reflects on receiving the Lynn Orstad Award. Listen to hear how traditional knowledge and modern science are working together to build more resilient communities.

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://vimeo.com/firesmartbc

In this episode of the Get FireSmart Podcast, we’re joined by Armel Castellan, Warning Preparedness Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. With a diverse career spanning aviation meteorology, Arctic weather, Indigenous collaboration, and emergency management, he brings a unique perspective to wildfire resilience. In this episode, we explore the intricate relationship between weather, wildfire, and health, diving into topics like cascading hazards, the rising frequency of extreme weather events, and their immense impacts on vulnerable populations. Join us as Armel shares insights from his keynote presentation at the 2024 Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit, highlighting the role of partnerships, community preparedness, and the evolving science of smoke and health impacts. 

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://vimeo.com/firesmartbc

This episode of the Get FireSmart Podcast features Kara McCurdy, Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager for Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services and one of the 2024 Lynn Orstad Award winners. With over 30 years of experience as a forest technician, structural firefighter, and fire behaviour analyst, Kara brings extensive expertise and passion to wildfire mitigation. In this episode, we discuss the transformative power of FireSmart principles, Kara’s keynote presentation at the 2024 Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit, lessons from her incredible career in Nova Scotia, and her vision for the future of wildfire resilience. Don’t miss this conversation with one of the leading voices in wildfire mitigation!

Links:

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://vimeo.com/firesmartbc

Many Indigenous communities—particularly those in remote locations—are immensely vulnerable to the threat of wildfire. FireSmart represents one pathway towards wildfire resilience that Indigenous communities may choose to adopt, often blending and working with established cultural fire practices and land stewardship initiatives. To discuss her experiences and the process of integrating FireSmart into an Indigenous community, we sat down with Local FireSmart Representative Aislinn Gentles, currently working as the OHS & Emergency Program Manager for Saulteau First Nations. Through our conversation, we learn how she has worked with Saulteau First Nation in the integration of FireSmart and how these programs can help support the ongoing stewardship of their lands. We also discuss her suggested Indigenous Community Project Guide and how it supports Indigenous communities in starting their FireSmart Journey and continuing it for years to come.

This episode was recorded live at the 2024 Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit.

Links:

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://vimeo.com/firesmartbc

Learn more about Saulteau First Nations: https://www.saulteau.com/

In this episode, we speak with Jason Brolund, Fire Chief of West Kelowna. Through our conversation, we discuss his experiences with the devastating 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire and the important lessons learned from a difficult wildfire season. As a fire professional with decades of experience, Chief Brolund emphasizes the effectiveness of proactive preparedness through FireSmart principles, the power of clear communication with community members, and the importance of building relationships with other fire professionals and industry specialists. Through strong relationships, communication, and collaboration, Chief Brolund and his team were able to rally an army of 10,000 professionals to battle the blaze and minimize damage.

This episode was recorded live at the 2024 Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit.

Links:

Learn more about FireSmart BC: firesmartbc.ca

Watch FireSmart BC videos: https://vimeo.com/firesmartbc

Read about a FireSmart success story in West Kelowna: https://firesmartbc.ca/beyond-the-blaze-how-one-home-stood-strong-in-the-face-of-wildfire/