A new report released by the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) outlines the concerns of frontline workers in the Wildfire Service and provides key recommendations following the 2025 fire season.
Informed by member feedback and discussion, the report—Burnt Out - A Workers’ Perspective from Manitoba’s 2025 Wildfire Season—provides the experiences of workers on the frontlines, who say chronic staffing shortages, outdated equipment, and a lack of training have put additional strains on an already stretched thin workforce.
After years of reduced or frozen staffing levels, Manitoba’s Wildfire Service entered the 2025 season short dozens of fire rangers, with about a quarter of positions vacant. Workers say this meant fewer crews to fight fires early, leading to larger and more destructive blazes.
“There’s no doubt this was an unprecedented wildfire season, one where all of Manitoba came together to support the emergency efforts,” said MGEU President Kyle Ross. “It was a challenging season, and we are grateful for every worker who stepped up to support Manitobans. We got through it, but we also saw where better preparation and resources could have made a real difference.”
The MGEU represents thousands of workers who played a vital role during the wildfire season. This includes those on the fire lines, members across all departments who coordinated evacuations and emergency management, as well as community organizations who supported evacuees.
“We’re releasing this report to ensure workers have a say in this process,” added Ross. “Members saw firsthand how short-staffing and under-resourcing limit our ability to respond quickly, keep people safe, and protect communities. We want to make sure that workers’ voices are included in any review the government does.”
The report calls on the provincial government to review the member recommendations, get feedback from frontline workers, fix the staffing shortages with improved pay, invest more in training/equipment, and update outdated administrative systems.