The Government of Yukon has sent four wildland fire personnel to support wildfire response operations in British Columbia, Idaho and Washington State.
The Yukon government sent an air attack officer and trainee air attack officer to Cranbook, B.C. on August 10 to assist with nearby wildfires. An individual aircraft dispatcher was also sent to assist in Grangeville, Idaho, on August 9. A trainee safety officer will also be sent to Washington State.
Individual resources, like officers and dispatchers, will be deployed for up to 14 days depending on the needs of the receiving agency.
These assignments are opportunities for the Yukon to repay neighbouring agencies who helped protect the territory during the busy fire season in July. The deployment is also an opportunity for personnel to broaden their experience and receive further training.
As the fire season continues to wind down in the North, Wildland Fire Management remains ready to help with other assignments.
We were grateful to receive help from our neighbours in July during a period of intense fire activity that prompted evacuation alerts and highway closures. Now that fire season in the Yukon is tapering off, it is our turn to repay the favour. These deployments are a great opportunity to be good neighbours as well as gain experience for our personnel.
Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn
Provinces and territories share firefighting resources within Canada through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) mutual aid resource sharing agreement.
Internationally, firefighting resources are shared within the Northwest Compact, which includes the Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Alaska, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Oregon.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Haley Ritchie
Fire Information Officer
867-393-7415
YukonFireInfo@yukon.ca