Imagine that you’re flying in a helicopter above a large stretch of forest. You see smoke rising from the treetops. The helicopter circles around to give a clear view of the fire below. It then travels around the smoke and lands in an area where you can grab your gear and safely disembark.
A forest fire can injure or kill animals, threaten towns and communities, emit pollutants into the air, and alter the soil and water. It can spread quickly, and it might destroy everything in its path.
It’s your job to minimize the damage that’s caused by a blaze like this one by putting it out as quickly as possible.
You also work to prevent fires from occurring in the first place. This involves duties such as removing fallen trees, managing controlled burning, and working to educate the community about fire prevention.
Most of your work is done outdoors as part of a crew. Many forest firefighters live where they grew up, protecting forests by putting out the fires that threaten them.
You are motivated and enjoy the challenge that every day brings. You are committed to your team, dedicated to physical fitness, and feel satisfied knowing that you’re helping to protect the natural environment, people, and property.
What do forest firefighters do? While job duties vary from one position to the next, forest firefighters are frequently asked to conduct the following activities:
If you are a high school student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, you should have a keen interest in:
If you are a post-secondary student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, the following programs are most applicable.
In most cases, the minimum education requirement to work as an environmental geophysicist is a graduate degree. Pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in fields related to environmental geophysics can enhance your expertise, career prospects, and ability to contribute to the field. These advanced degrees offer specialized knowledge and skills highly valued in both the professional and academic worlds.
In many provinces, geophysicists must obtain registration and licensure with their provincial association as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.). The certification process for geophysicists is similar to that of engineering professions and is typically overseen by the same regulatory body.
Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.
Technical Skills
Personal and Professional Skills
Environmental employers look for professionals who can combine technical knowledge with soft skills. Watch our free webinar “Essential Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry” or take our Essential Skills courses.
As key executive leaders who shape their company’s sustainability policy, CSOs work in many different types of organizations. Common employers of CSOs include:
Search for jobs on the ECO Canada Job Board.
If you are a post-secondary student seeking a CSO role in the future, consider pursuing a university degree related to:
In addition to the educational fields mentioned above, you will also need extensive management experience to become a CSO, with well-developed human resources management and leadership skills. Consider educational seminars or post-graduate studies that will hone your analytical thinking, such as:
Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.
Technical Skills
Personal and Professional Skills
Environmental employers seek professionals who combine technical knowledge with personal and professional skills. Watch our free webinar “Essential Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry” or take our Essential Skills courses.
Forest firefighters perform fire prevention and suppression techniques in forests and on public land such as national parks. The work of forest firefighters includes preparing firebreaks by trimming trees, removing brush and performing controlled burns to reduce the potential for large outbreaks.
Forest firefighters also help improve awareness of the causes of forest fires. They teach people and organizations how to prevent forest fires when they’re working or recreating outside, contributing to fewer human-caused forest fires.
A variety of tactics is used to control fires. Forest firefighters may work for logging companies, contractors, or municipal and provincial governments, and federal bodies like the Canadian Air Force. Being a forest firefighter means that you provide 24/7 fire protection by working in teams, rotating shifts and responsibilities. You’ll be supported by senior staff such as the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, and Inspectors.
As a forest firefighter, you must be prepared to respond to a call immediately; every minute wasted makes a bad situation worse.
There is no second-guessing or overthinking because you know that the end goal is to suppress fires, save lives, and minimize damage. You need to be aware of the surroundings at all times and remain composed and level-headed to help others at the scene stay calm as well.
The day-to-day of a forest firefighter varies but you must stay focused and diligent in their work. The actions you take on the job not only affect yourself, but also your team, communities, and natural and cultural resources.
Marine geologists are classified into the following occupational grouping:
NOC Code: 21102 – Geoscientists and oceanographers
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) provides a standardized language for describing the work performed by Canadians in the labour market. It gives statisticians, labour market analysts, career counsellors, employers, and individual job seekers a consistent way to collect data and describe and understand the nature of work within different occupations.
See ECO’s Blue National Occupational Standard for a career competency profile for a marine geologist that outlines the specific skills, knowledge, and behaviours required for individuals to perform effectively in this particular role. This profile is a benchmark for training and development, ensuring consistency and quality across professions within the blue economy.
Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, we acknowledge that we live, work, and gather on the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy—comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations—as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations.
This land, known as Moh’kinsstis in the Blackfoot language and encompassing what is now Districts 5 and 6, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland.
We recognize and honour the deep connection these Nations have to the land, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share in its stewardship.
As we continue our work, we commit to learning from Indigenous knowledge systems, uplifting Indigenous voices, and fostering relationships rooted in equity, understanding, and reconciliation.
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We are working to launch the French site very soon!
Thank you for your patience while we finalize the new and improved version of our website.