Kara McCurdy has been a structural and wildland firefighter for over 30 years. She started her career as a wildland firefighter soon after taking her Forest Technologist diploma from Sir Sanford Fleming College in Ontario, becoming a forest technician, then Wildfire Prevention Officer for the Province of Nova Scotia. Her career has taken her nationally to assist other provinces in wildfire efforts and to the northeast USA. As of April 2024 she re-directed her career into a position created after the wildfires of 2023 as Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager for Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency where she is developing and improving the wildfire program.