Yukon firefighters deployed to assist with B.C. wildfires

Two dozen Yukon firefighters have been deployed to British Columbia to assist with its massive wildfires, joining more than 30 Yukon personnel already deployed to Ontario, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. The deployments are coordinated by Yukon Wildland Fire Management through CIFFC, which manages interjurisdictional firefighting cooperation and…

About 48% of the Yukon Wildland Fire Management branch’s firefighters have been deployed to British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, with an additional 20% of support personnel deployed out of territory; 24 firefighters have been sent to Terrace, B.C. Yukon’s wildfire season has been relatively quiet, but personnel from Yukon are joining…

The BC Wildfire Service announced that out-of-province wildland firefighting personnel would begin arriving to assist with the more than 130 wildfires burning in British Columbia, starting with 25 firefighters from Yukon on Monday and 66 from Alberta on Tuesday, with 114 more from Mexico expected next week. The support is intended to provide relief for…

The article reports that crews are focusing on containing the Fiftynine Creek fire south of Big Bar Road, with helicopters assisting and about 65 firefighters, 13 helicopters, 57 heavy equipment vehicles, and 77 structure protection resources engaged. It notes that the fire is threatening Clinton’s watershed, prompting evacuation orders/alerts nearby…

A transport truck hauling diesel collided with a bison on Highway 97 near Coal River, causing the truck to overturn. The Environment and Parks Ministry says the truck’s tanks appear compromised and may be leaking up to 50,000 litres of diesel into a downstream waterway, with a response contractor on site and a response officer deployed.

The article reports on the rise of Indigenous-led firefighting, particularly Yukon First Nations Wildfire (YFNW), and its effort to train and deploy Type 1 crews to fight major wildfires in Canada. It notes that Indigenous firefighting is increasingly relied upon due to distant or late government resources, and highlights YFNW’s goal to meet Type 1…