Good Fire.
Prescribed Fire and Cultural Burning Support in BC
Fireline experience, brought to good fire
Good fire takes people who know fire. Our crews bring real fireline experience, steady leadership and respect for the land to every prescribed burn we support.
Fire has always shaped the land here. Used with care, it clears out the fuel that turns a bad season into a disaster, and it brings life back to forests and grasslands. Prescribed fire is fire we choose to light, under an approved burn plan, in the right weather, with the right people on the ground.
Carmanah Wildfire is based in North Cowichan, BC. We work alongside government, First Nations, utilities and industry, and our crews deploy across BC, Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Ontario.
How we support prescribed fire
From planning to patrol
Training and experience
Supporting First Nations-led cultural burning
Your land. Your fire. Our crews behind you.
Cultural burning is led by First Nations and grounded in their knowledge and values. Many communities want to bring fire back to their land and lead that work themselves. We are here to back that up, with crews who listen, learn and support the people leading the burn.
Where a project has a burn boss, agency officer or cultural fire practitioner, we work under their lead. Our job is to show up prepared, hold the line, follow the plan and leave the site clean.
Who we work with
Government. First Nations. Utilities. Industry.
We support prescribed fire projects for government, First Nations, utilities and industry. Projects are often funded through the Community Resiliency Investment program or the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, and we can help you plan crew needs for a funding application.
Prescribed fire pairs well with our other services: FireSmart assessments, danger tree work and wildfire training.
Prescribed fire FAQ
Straight answers
What is prescribed fire?
Prescribed fire is the planned use of fire under set weather, fuel and operating conditions to reduce fuel, restore ecosystems or protect communities. It takes an approved burn plan, the right conditions and a trained crew.
What is the difference between cultural burning and prescribed fire?
Cultural burning is led by First Nations or grounded in their cultural values and knowledge. Prescribed fire is planned burning under a burn plan. In BC the two often work together, and Carmanah supports cultural fire practitioners in the roles they set.
What does Carmanah do on a prescribed burn?
Our crews help with site preparation, control lines, ignition support, holding, contingency, mop-up and patrol. Go or no-go calls stay with the burn authority.
Does Carmanah lead every burn?
Not always. We follow the burn plan. When a burn boss, agency or cultural fire practitioner leads the project, our crews support them.
How is prescribed fire different from FireSmart work?
FireSmart reduces risk around homes and neighbourhoods, often by hand or with machines. Prescribed fire uses fire itself to treat fuel across a larger area. Many projects use both.
How are prescribed burns funded in BC?
Common sources include the Community Resiliency Investment program and the Forest Enhancement Society of BC. We can help you plan crew needs for a funding application.
Where do we work?
We are based in North Cowichan, BC, and deploy across BC, Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Ontario.
Talk through your prescribed fire project
Based in North Cowichan, BC. Email info@carmanahwildfire.com or use our contact page to talk about your burn. We would love to hear what you are planning.