Seventy-five candidates will test their limits at wildfire fighter boot camp this week, seeing if they have what it takes to join one of British Columbia's world-renowned crews.

The week-long training camp includes rigorous fitness testing, as well as extensive instruction on fire safety, fire behaviour, front-line equipment and wilderness survival.

Nearly 1,400 people submitted applications to become B.C. wildfire fighters this season. Only 220 were invited to attend one of three provincial camps following pre-interviews and fitness tests. About 200 will be offered jobs.

Altogether, the province's Wildfire Management Branch will employ more than 1,100 firefighters this summer.

(flickr.com)

Quick Facts:

• Out of 1,400 applicants, 530 were pre-interviewed by recruiters, with 220 receiving invitations to boot camp.
• One per cent of candidates will fail the fitness test on Day One of camp.
• About 20 per cent of new recruits will be women.
• The average age of recruits is 23 years old.
• Confronted by nearly 2,000 wildfires every year, B.C. crews successfully contain 92 per cent of them within the first 24 hours of discovery.

Learn More:

Wildland firefighters must be in top physical condition to be effective and safe on the fire line. Learn more about what it takes: http://bcwildfire.ca/Employment/FireFighter/fitness.htm

You can also follow this year's candidates on their boot camp journey -

On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo.

Contact:

Cheekwan Ho
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261