In the Eyes of a Fire Lookout: Trina Moyles Shares Her Story and Offers Hope for the Future of Wildfire Management

Trina Moyles, a journalist, photographer, and creative producer, has spent seven seasons working as a fire lookout near Peace River, Alta., and has witnessed some of Canada’s worst wildfire seasons. She has seen firsthand the stress of watching communities threatened by advancing wildfires from the tower. Last year marked Canada’s worst wildfire season on record, prompting fire chiefs from across the country to request more financial assistance in Ottawa. The federal government responded with $800,000 in additional funding to train and hire firefighters to combat wildfires.

Despite the challenges faced by firefighters on the frontlines, new technologies offer potential solutions to combat wildfires. Alberta and New Brunswick have been exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) while the Canadian Space Agency is launching a dedicated fire-monitoring satellite. These advancements in technology aim to improve wildfire detection and response, offering hope for more effective fire management in the future.

Moyles published a memoir titled Lookout about her experience in this challenging role. She shared her thoughts on how she coped with the stress of being a fire lookout and what it took for her to continue working in such a demanding environment.

The exodus of 9,500 volunteer firefighters in 2023 highlighted the need for increased resources to address the growing threat of wildfires. It was clear that more money and support were needed to help combat these devastating fires.

The Canadian Space Agency’s dedicated fire-monitoring satellite is just one example of how technology can be used to fight against wildfires. With AI being explored by Alberta and New Brunswick as well as other technologies being developed around the world, there is hope that we will see a decrease in devastating wildfires in years to come.

Moyles’ book serves as a reminder of what it takes for those on the frontlines to fight against these dangerous fires. It also highlights how important it is for communities affected by these fires to have access to support systems that can help them cope with their loss and rebuild their lives after disaster strikes.