NationTalk: The Government of Yukon is preparing for the coming wildfire season by investing in wildfire response capacity and supporting wildfire resiliency in Yukon communities.

In Budget 2024–25, the government is investing in improving planning, communications and capacity initiatives to better prepare for climate emergencies like wildfires. The government continues to fund community-led FireSmart projects across the territory, work with communities to develop wildfire protection plans and develop landscape-level mitigations like the Whitehorse South Fuel Break.

This summer the Yukon will have 24 wildfire crews in regional bases across the territory, comprising of 10 Government of Yukon and 14 Yukon First Nations crews. That means 75 initial-attack firefighters and another 40 staff managing crews and aircraft and providing logistical support. Supporting the ground crews will be two contracted airtanker groups along with helicopters on contract.

It is still too early to predict what the fire season will look like in the territory, but the Yukon has not been faced with holdover fires that continued burning all winter. As spring approaches, the Government of Yukon will be sharing more information about wildfire risk.

The Government of Yukon encourages Yukoners to reduce wildfire risk at home by applying FireSmart principles to their properties. Yukoners should also be prepared for any emergencies by making an emergency plan and a 72-hour emergency kit. Learn more about next steps at www.PreparedYukon.ca.

The Government of Yukon is committed to providing wildfire response services and helping create wildfire resilient Yukon communities. Ahead of the upcoming wildfire season, we are planning, procuring and deploying firefighting equipment and training so that our firefighters have an increased capacity to respond to wildfires.

Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn

Quick facts

• The Government of Yukon has wildfire-response capability from April 1 to September 30 every year.
• Applying simple FireSmart principles to your home and property reduces the chance that an ember or spark from a nearby fire will catch your property alight.
• Create a fire safety zone around your home. Remove flammable materials from within 1.5 metres of your home, including woodpiles, brush and dead leaves. Clean dead leaves and debris out of your roof and eaves.
• Expand outward from your home, remove materials or items that catch fire easily, prune shrubs and trees and thin out or remove flammable conifer trees like spruce and pine. Sweep up dry grass and pine needles from the ground – these fuels are easy to ignite.

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca

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