Colleen Ross

AFE Wildland Fire Ecologist

Helping communities build better relationships with fire.

The first fire on Earth ignited 420 million years ago and today many landscapes continue to be shaped by it.  If we prepare ourselves and our environment to receive fire, we can improve wildfire outcomes, promote ecological benefits and restore human connection.  
Colleen Ross, RPF, BLT

I work alongside municipalities, First Nations, governments, and fire professionals across British Columbia to plan, teach, and implement prescribed fire. Whether it’s building a local burn program from the ground up or providing training grounded in decades of boots on the ground experience, my work is about restoring relationships with fire and with the land.

With thirty years of experience in wildfire, prescribed fire, land management, and fire effects monitoring, I help teams navigate the complexities of approvals, legislation, consultation, and burn implementation. From community-driven planning to hands-on training and mentorship, I focus on building the capacity to bring fire back to the land, in a way that’s practical, legal, and respectful.

I’m a Registered Professional Forester (RPF), a Biologist in Training (BIT), and Canada’s first Wildland Fire Ecologist through the Association for Fire Ecology (2012). I also hold a Master’s degree in Fire Ecology, which continues to guide my approach to both ecological restoration and fire management.

As the only consultant in British Columbia certified by government as both a Type 2 Burn Boss and Fire Effects Monitor, I bring a unique blend of operational and ecological experience to the work. I’ve led burns across a range of ecosystems and jurisdictions, and I know the weight of responsibility that comes with putting fire on the ground. That’s why I continue to mentor new practitioners to help reduce risk, build confidence, and support safe, effective burning grounded in strong planning and shared knowledge.

Prescribed fire is more than a combination of art and technical skill, it’s a cultural responsibility. My job is to make it doable, supported, and safe, so communities can take the lead in returning fire to their landscapes.

What do I do?

AIB Demo Burn (photo credit BCWS)
Photo: Ashcroft Indian Band Demo Burn (photo credit BCWS)