Department of Community Services

Fighting Forest Fires

A variety of methods are employed to control fires, depending on the location and severity of the fire. During fire season, district offices maintain fire crews in a state of readiness to respond quickly.

"Initial attack" teams use helicopters to deliver crews to fire sites and "bucket" water onto fires while air tankers drop retardant to slow the fire's progress.

All fire-fighters are trained in a wide variety of skills, including fire behaviour and suppression, standard first aid and radio communications.

Several fire crews are contracted on a seasonal basis and stationed throughout the Yukon. A typical fire unit consists of a crew leader and two crew members, although crew sizes may vary. After initial notification of a fire, a helicopter usually drops three or more fire fighters to the ground with pumps, hoses and other equipment. Fire fighters use trucks extensively around communities and work closely with volunteer fire departments.

Both fixed and rotary wing aircraft are integral elements of Wildland Fire Management operations. Wildland Fire contracts helicopter and fixed wing aircraft on an as needed basis and two tanker groups for the fire season.  The tanker groups consist of:

  • A Conair Douglas DC6 air tanker, which can hold over 11,000 litres of retardant used to "box-in" remote fires before fire fighters arrive. An environmentally friendly retardant is used containing a fertilizer to encourage first generation growth following a burn. The DC6 is accompanied by a PA60 bird-dog.
  • Additionally, Wildland Fire Management contracts Conair's Firecat air tanker group which consists of three planes and a bird dog support plane. The Firecats each hold 3,295 litres; together they matching the holding capacity of the DC6.
  • Light-engine aircraft or "bird-dogs," direct the aerial tankers to drop locations for their retardant and direct any other fire-fighting aircraft within the fire zone. During a fire action, the bird-dog has airspace authority over a five-mile radius.

    • To Report Wildfires Call: 1-888-798-FIRE (3473)