Government of Yukon

07/09/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/09/2026 11:52

Yukon personnel join Northwest Territories’ wildfire response

The Government of Yukon has sent wildfire personnel to the Northwest Territories to assist with wildfire response. The NWT is experiencing a significant wildfire season and has had multiple communities evacuated in recent days.

Adequate crews remain at all Yukon fire bases. These personnel are available to assist the NWT because fire activity in the Yukon is low. Should the fire situation change locally, the Yukon government can bring resources back to the Yukon.

The resources deployed include:

  • an ignition specialist, an operations section chief, a planning section chief, a radio operator and an air attack officer, who departed on 14-day deployments in late June through early July; and
  • 23 firefighters and one agency representative who left for Fort Simpson on July 7 and are to return later this month.

We are happy to help our neighbours in the NWT and support their wildfire response. We have often benefited from the support of firefighters from other territories and provinces and are pleased to be able to return the assistance during their difficult wildfire season.

Minister of Community Services Cory Bellmore

Quick facts

  • The Government of Yukon is a member of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. When jurisdictions need additional resources, they put in a request through this national organization.

  • Jurisdictions that can provide extra resources will do so through the Mutual Aid Resource Sharing Agreement.

  • Personnel can be deployed for up to 19 days, depending on the needs of the receiving agency, and can be recalled with 24 hours' notice if needed in their home jurisdiction.

Media contact

Matt Davidson
Director, Cabinet Communications
867-334-6637
[email protected]

Julia Duchesne
Communications, Community Services
867-332-4188
[email protected]

News release #:
26-195
Government of Yukon published this content on July 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 09, 2026 at 17:53 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]