Yukon First Nation Wildfire (YFNW) members, ready to assist with wildfires raging across the country, are feeling sidelined this season. Unlike in the past, the calls for their help haven’t come, leaving them frustrated and concerned about the impact on their highly trained crews.
YFNW CEO Nick Mauro expressed his crew’s readiness to lend a hand, reminiscing about their past deployments to Alberta for firefighting support. However, this year seemed different, with international crews being prioritized over their Canadian resources.
While welcoming international aid, Mauro questions why Canadian resources weren’t given priority. He worries about the consequences of limited opportunities for his skilled team members, emphasizing the importance of providing them with meaningful work to retain their expertise.
Yukon Wildland Fire Management’s firefighters have been actively deployed to various regions, including British Columbia. Fire resources are coordinated through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), where the allocation is based on the needs identified by incident commanders on the ground.
Mike Fancie, a community engagement officer for Yukon Wildland Fire Management, explained the process of deploying resources based on the specific requests received from firefighting teams in different provinces.
The Ministry of Forests in British Columbia acknowledges the vital role of Indigenous crews in wildfire response but highlights the need for initiation by the Yukon government due to YFNW operating outside the province.
Mauro points out that the current system presents barriers for Indigenous-run organizations, hindering their participation in firefighting efforts. He calls for the removal of these obstacles to create a collaborative path forward for all parties involved.
In the end, YFNW underscores that they are not seeking special treatment but rather a fair opportunity to contribute their expertise and support in combating wildfires across the country.
