Yukoners responding to wildfires across Canada

Caption: Yukon wildland fire personnel are supporting wildfire response operations across Canada. Credit: Government of Yukon.

 The Government of Yukon continues to send wildland fire personnel to support wildfire response operations across Canada, while ensuring that the Yukon maintains adequate firefighting capacity at home.

Since May 8, the Yukon has sent a total of 76 staff, including three unit crews, to incidents in the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Quebec.

Through this mutual-aid support, the Government of Yukon is helping provinces and territories that are experiencing severe resource shortages during a record-breaking wildfire season. The Yukon has seen low levels of wildfire activity so far this year because of low levels of lightning and favourable weather conditions.

The Yukon also uses the Canadian mutual-aid system to enhance its firefighting capabilities. In 2022, the Yukon received valuable assistance from more than 300 personnel, including firefighters, an incident management team, a self-contained fire camp, dispatchers, and two air-tanker groups, hailing from British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.

The Government of Yukon continues to urge all Yukoners to prepare an emergency kit containing basic supplies for every member of their household that can be easily accessed in an emergency. The kit should allow each individual to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours without power or running water.

As Canada faces a record-breaking fire season, the Yukon is proud to answer the call for mutual aid from our neighbours. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the fires burning across the country. We will send all the help we can over the coming months, while keeping appropriate staffing levels in the Yukon.

Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn

Quick facts 
  • Provinces and territories share firefighting resources within Canada through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) mutual aid resource sharing agreement.

  • Most deployments last for 19 days, including travel time, depending on the needs of the receiving agency. 

  • If needed in the Yukon, personnel can be recalled to the territory within 24 hours.

  • More information on emergency kits can be found at http://preparedyukon.ca/

Media contact 

Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca

Julia Duchesne
Communications, Community Services
867-332-4188
Julia.duchesne@yukon.ca

News release #: 
23-234