Videos
Join us for a special two-part discussion on the impacts of wildfire fighting on public safety personnel
*Quote from Luke Santore, ‘The Silent Mental Health Crisis on the Frontlines of Fire’, Mountain Journal, June 25, 2025.
First responders and other public safety personnel are routinely exposed to trauma through performance of their job duties, which can in turn contribute to the development of mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and other posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSI).
Woodland and wildland firefighters face a unique set of challenges and stressors, including prolonged exposure to dangerous and extreme conditions, exhaustion and burnout from long, physically demanding days and suboptimal sleep, health risks due to smoke and chemical exposure, and loneliness and isolation from extended time spent away from loved ones and community.
2025 has proven to be the second-worst season on record in Canada, and climate scientists warn that back-to-back extreme fire seasons is becoming a new normal, increasing demands on fire fighters and other emergency personnel.
In this panel discussion we will examine:
- The unique challenges and stressors experienced by wildland and woodland fire fighters
- Intersections between structural and woodland/wildland firefighting
- Measures wellness experts are implementing to support wildfire fighter mental health
- Calls for a national-level fire response and mental health supports for wildland firefighters and emergency personnel, and for incorporation of Indigenous fire stewardship principles in wildland firefighting
December 4, 2025.
Panelists
Erik Hanson
Program Manager, British Columbia Wildfire Services Provincial Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program
Erik Hanson is a former wildfire fighter and is currently the Program Manager for the BC Wildfire Services Provincial Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program. Erik is a trainer for CISM, which is an internationally recognized standard for debriefing and mental health support in response to traumatic situations. He is also trainer with the Resilient Minds for Wildland Firefighters, developed in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Ken McMullen
Fire Chief, Red Deer Fire Department, Emergency Services
Ken McMullen is Fire Chief of the Red Deer Fire Department, Emergency Services, President of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, as well as a member and former Co-chair of the Public Safety Steering Committee of the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT). Ken has also served as the Canadian Division Director for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), where he continues to collaborate on legislative changes and advocacy initiatives that pertain to the Fire Service. In 2020 Ken was bestowed the honour of Career Fire Chief of the Year, and in 2022 received the IAFC President’s Award for his unrelenting advocacy work on mental health supports for first responders.
Brett Pituka
Training and Accreditation Director, National Indigenous Fire Safety Council
Brett Pituka is a passionate educator, paramedic, and advocate for culturally inclusive health and safety education. With a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change from the University of British Columbia and over two decades of experience in healthcare and education, Brett is dedicated to fostering learning environments that empower individuals and communities. As the Training Director for the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC), Brett is overseeing the development of an Indigenous-focused firefighting academy and has presented at national conferences. Additionally, Brett has designed and delivered customized training for paramedics and firefighters, with a focus on Indigenization of curriculum. Brett’s career highlights include developing high-fidelity paramedic training simulations, providing culturally safe healthcare for Indigenous communities, and collaborating with diverse communities across seven countries to deliver culturally responsive healthcare education and empowerment programs.
Dr. Shannon Wagner
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
Thompson Rivers University
Dr. Shannon Wagner has dedicated much of her research career to the study of workplace traumatic stress, particularly as pertains to emergency responders, and she has expertise in the mental health risks of wildland firefighting. She was the inaugural dean of the Faculty of Human and Health Science at the University of Northern British Columbia and a long-serving professor in the School of Health Sciences. She has served in various professorial and teaching roles from 2000 to 2021. Shannon is also a registered psychologist with expertise in occupational neuropsychological assessment. She is currently the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia.
Facilitated by:
Kara Vincent
Knowledge Translator, Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment