All in a day’s work

The wildfire fighting crew at Strategic Fire Control has an exciting job saving communities and wilderness

left to right: Sean Christie, Mike Kostynuk, Michael Kosolofski and Kyle VanDelft. — Rudy Carline photo

Eight years ago Michael Kosolofski started work with Strategic Fire Control, battling a wildfire in Alberta. He quickly realized he loved the work—not to mention the lifestyle—and has stayed on to become operations manager. He’s glad to talk about the advantages of the job which, for the right person, are abundant.

“You know that you’re doing something positive,” Kosolofski said. “There’s also a chance to learn a lot of different things. You’re outdoors and the job is exciting. All the guys just love doing the work, so there’s a lot of camaraderie and good morale.”

It makes sense that Strategic Fire Control Ltd. will be represented at the upcoming College of the Rockies career fair. The company is on the lookout for capable individuals who want an exciting seasonal placement. Jobs at Strategic Fire Control require a number of different skills, from industrial first aid to silviculture. However, the core duties have to do with fighting wildfires. So what does a position on a wildfire fighting crew entail?

“Normally the day starts at 7 a.m.” said Kosolofski. “You’ll be given your assignment and staging area, where you’ll have a safety briefing.”

Before anyone enters an assignment, the area has to be assessed. Then crews will go in with hand tools or hoses.

“We also work with a lot of heavy equipment,” said Kosolofski. “Sometimes we’ll drive in to work, but a lot of times we have to be flown in by helicopter.”

Depending on the severity of the fire, the jobs could vary. You could be doing initial attack, meaning you’d be fighting the fire at a safe spot to try contain it.

“Once you’ve knocked it down a little bit, you can go in and hit specific areas,” said Kosolofski. “Then there’s a mop-up phase, where you literally go in and check for areas that are still hot. The final stage is just patrolling and making sure everything is OK.”

The days can be long, but the job offers an excellent summer work opportunity. Kosolofski expects the upcoming season to be a busy one, and Strategic Fire Control is able to offer all the necessary training. Additional tickets are encouraged, and pay increases with certification.

“I just got hooked on it,” Kosolofski said. “I actually have a corporate manager background, so a suit-and-tie guy. Now I’d much prefer to be out on the mountain fighting fires rather than sitting in an office.”