Employees

Forest Protection Technician

Employee Name:

Grant Preston

Title:

Forest Protection Technician

Ministry:

Ministry of Forests and Range

Background:

Education: Diploma, Forest Technology (BCIT)
Member of the BC Public Service Since: 1974

My Role

As a Forest Protection Technician, I direct and organize firefighting. If we have a fire that's big enough, I go out as incident commander and have an organized team beneath me. The firefighters are the ones actually putting out the fires. If there is a small roadside fire, I may help the initial crew. In the off-season, I do lots of administration and strategic planning and looking at the direction in which protection is going. At the end of the fire season there is a lot of clean-up we have to do. I visit all of the fire departments, municipalities and anyone who assists in fire fighting.

Career Path:

I was originally with BC Parks for a little over two years and then moved onto the Forest Service. I spent three years in the Timber Administration Section in Fort St. James and then transferred to Chilliwack where I spent another four years in Timber. In 1986 I transferred over to the Protection Program and have been there ever since.

What I Like Best:

Every day I go to work something different occurs. I enjoy the excitement and challenges that my career has given me on a day to day basis and I like the interaction with the people I work with and the different agencies I come into contact with annually. I have freedom to do my job and I really like the location of my work at Haig Fire Base - I call it Camp Serenity. I like the fact that in the winter I have to start a fire in the wood stove to heat my office.

Ideas At Work:

Basically, we help protect forests and people. When it comes to wild land-urban interface, we do a lot of prevention. I am unofficially mentoring and coaching the new, young staff so that they can take over my role in the future. I don't look at this as a job; it is part of who I am.

Advice:

The line of work that I am in is definitely a lifestyle and not everyone will be suitable nor have the aptitude for it. One of the first things an individual should do is apply to join one of our crews. Once they have decided that this is the life they want, apply to go to either a technical school that offers the Forest Technology program or go to University. The summer work that they will get from the Protection Branch while they are going to school will not only help them financially through those years but will also be an excellent conduit into a satisfying and fulfilling career.