Paul McCarthy
Emergency Program Manager / Fire Chief
Paul has been involved in Emergency Services since I was 16 years old. He is currently the Fire Chief of the 150 Mile House Fire Department, and Emergency Program Manager for the Williams Lake First Nation.
He has supported emergency operations as Operations Chief for both the Cariboo Regional District and Central Coast Regional District for major incidents.
Chief McCarthy has been a member of the (volunteer) fire department for 34 years.
29
July 16, 2026
When the Fire Wouldn’t Sleep: September’s Extreme Wildfire Behaviour and the Rise of First Nations Leadership with Fire Chief Paul McCarthy
In this episode, Fire Chief Paul McCarthy of the 150 Mile Fire Department and Emergency Program Manager for the Williams Lake First Nation, joins host Tim Conrad for a deep dive into one of the most unpredictable wildfire seasons in recent memory. Paul reflects on the “September surprise” — a period when calm forecasts collapsed overnight, fires ran kilometres in the dark, and emergency operations teams were forced to pivot every few minutes. Paul shares candid insights from ...
Guest: Paul McCarthy