The Government of Yukon has dispatched wildland fire personnel to support Alberta and British Columbia wildfire response operations. Current wildfire activity and hazard levels in the Yukon allow for these deployments, which will provide critical support to Canadians and provide valuable experience for Yukon crews.
At the request of Alberta Wildfire, a Yukon First Nation Wildfire 20-person unit crew is being deployed to High Level in Northern Alberta, along with a Yukon Wildland Fire Management Agency Representative.
Twenty-nine Yukon Initial Attack firefighters are assisting British Columbia Wildfire Service response operations across the province, accompanied by a number of officers and specialist personnel.
This support includes a heavy airtanker and accompanying bird dog plane and air attack officer to support the Cranbrook Fire Zone operations.
The requests for these additional resources were made through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) and the Northwest Compact resource sharing agreements. Deployments can last for up to 19 days, including travel, depending on the needs of the receiving agency. The Yukon government can recall crews within 24 hours. Adequate crews will remain at all Yukon fire bases to respond to incidents in the Yukon.
As Yukoners, we all understand the profound impact that wildfires can have on our communities. As we see the heartbreaking impacts of wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia, we reflect on the times our own communities have been threatened by natural disasters and the support that we received from other provinces and territories. On behalf of the Government of Yukon, I’m pleased that we are in a position to send assistance to Alberta and B.C. and I want to thank the firefighting crews who are traveling to support our fellow Canadians during this crucial time.
-
Provinces and territories share firefighting resources within Canada through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) mutual aid resource sharing agreement.
-
Internationally, the Government of Yukon shares firefighting resources within the Northwest Compact, which includes the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Alaska, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Oregon.
Jordan Owens
Cabinet Communications
867-332-0615
jordan.owens@yukon.ca
Haley Ritchie
Fire Information Officer
867-393-7415
YukonFireInfo@yukon.ca