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Department of Community Services
Fire Marshal's Office
News and Statements of Yukon's Fire Marshal
December 19
During this holiday season, have fun decorating your home and tree and cooking, eating and celebrating together. Please also take a few steps to help keep you and your family, your friends and your guests safe. A little prevention goes a long way to having a happy, healthy and joyful holiday season.
Home Decorating
- Select a real tree that is healthy, fresh and green; cut two to five centimetres diagonally off the base of the tree, and keep it well watered at all times.
- Check light strings and electrical cords before you use them. Dispose of any with cracked casings and broken or exposed wire.
- Turn off all light strings and decorations before you leave your house or go to bed.
- Never leave a candle unattended be sure to extinguish them before leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Put candles in a sturdy holder and keep them away from children, pets, decorations, trees, curtains, sofas and wrapping paper.
- Never leave cooking, stoves, ovens or deep fryers unattended; this is the leading cause of kitchen fires.
This NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) video demonstrates the flammability of a dry Christmas tree vs. a tree that has been watered regularly.
Entertaining
- If you are entertaining, consider asking your guests to smoke outside, and keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
- Never leave cooking, stoves, ovens or deep fryers unattended; this is the leading cause of kitchen fires.
- Keep your (real) Christmas tree well watered at all times.
- If you expect children playing inside and lively celebrating, clear the decks! Extinguish all candles, secure space heaters in use and make your house safe.
- After the party, and before you go to bed, check for smouldering cigarette or cigar butts inside trash cans, between and under upholstery and cushions, and under furniture.
Home Safety
- Check that your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms are working and change the batteries.
- Keep your fire extinguishers handy and know how to use them.
- Clean your chimney if you have a wood stove or fireplace.
- Have your oil-fired heating system serviced regularly by a qualified oil burner mechanic.
Don't let festive holidays turn into flaming fiascos
October 7 - Fire Prevention Week
It's Fire Prevention Week October 7 - 13! Please visit our Fire Prevention page for more information on home safety.
July 30, 2012 - Safety Alert: PRO Auto Xs Automatic Guns and Shroud Kits Metallic Labels
This safety alert concerns PRO Auto Xs Automatic Paint Spray Guns. It has been recently discovered that a revised version of the Graco branding label on the gun shroud cover is conductive. This label can build up a charge that can arc to the ground manifold, potentially igniting any flammable fumes that may be present. Please see the full safety alert for more information.
May 8, 2012 - Yukon government strengthens fire-fighting capacity in Yukon
The Yukon Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) will receive a major investment to provide additional resources and training for fire departments around the territory, Community Services Minister Elaine Taylor announced today.
An additional $1.9 million is being invested this year in the Yukon Fire Marshal’s Office. Plans for the funding include an increase from two to four deputy fire marshals which doubles the capacity to undertake life safety inspections, fire investigations, fire prevention, training for Yukon firefighters and providing the necessary oversight to ensure national standards are maintained. A mobile live fire training facility will be added to an enhanced firefighter training program, bringing Yukon firefighting services into the 21st century. FMO fire departments will also receive new equipment for firefighters and two new fire trucks this fiscal year.
May 3, 2012 - Ibex Valley Fire Department responds to two vehicle fire calls
On Wednesday afternoon, May 2, 2012, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Ibex Valley Fire Department responded to a reported vehicle fire on the North Alaska Highway near the Takhini River Bridge. The Ibex Valley fire department dispatched two fire trucks and five firefighters to the scene. A one-ton Dodge pick-up truck had caught fire. There were no injuries and the fire was quickly contained and extinguished.
Fire crews en route back to the fire hall then stopped to assist a second vehicle that had a transmission failure which had started a small fire in the vehicle undercarriage. Fire crews quickly extinguished this small fire as well. There were no injuries and limited damage.
The Fire Marshal’s Office wants to remind Yukon motorists to slow down when approaching emergency vehicles working on Yukon highways.
March 30, 2012 - Yukon Fire Marshal's Office Report Released
The Yukon Fire Marshal’s Office report into the carbon monoxide deaths at 1606 Centennial St. in Whitehorse, Yukon on January 29, 2012 is now available. The report is available with agreement of Yukon’s Chief Coroner whose investigation is ongoing. The Fire Marshal’s Office investigation report will form part of the Coroner’s findings.
Statement by Yukon's Fire Marshal on the investigation report - March 30, 2012 
March 2, 2012
Conclusions of Fire Marshal’s Office investigation into the Centennial Street fatalities
February 16, 2012
August 24, 2011
