That's roughly 2,500 firefighters short of what is needed, said Mike Flannigan, a professor at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia and wildfire specialist.
"It's hard work, it's hot work, it's smoky work, and there are real issues with health impacts longer-term," Flannigan said.
Applications were down in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, and Alberta had to do several rounds of recruitment to fill its ranks, officials said.
As more wildfires threaten communities, provincial agencies are also increasingly leaning on structural firefighters to help protect homes.
Since 2009, Canada has been spending more on fighting and suppressing wildfires than on maintaining its firefighting personnel and program.
Persons:
Mike Flannigan, Flannigan, Scott Tingley, Rob Schweitzer, Ken McMullen, David Ljunggren, Ismail Shakil, Denny Thomas, Aurora Ellis
Organizations:
Reuters, Thompson Rivers University, Nova, Wildfire, BC Wildfire Service, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, Emergency Preparedness, Thomson
Locations:
BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada, Yukon, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Canada's, Manitoba, Lithuania, Quebec, Ottawa