Yukon First Nations Wildfire

Yukon First Nations Wildfire Protecting the North. www.yfnwildfire.com

As summer winds down, a lot of you are heading out for one more camping trip, a weekend at the cabin, or some time on th...
09/04/2026

As summer winds down, a lot of you are heading out for one more camping trip, a weekend at the cabin, or some time on the land before fall sets in.

Good habits never go out of style, keep campfires manageable, make sure they're fully out before you leave, and dispose of smoking materials safely.

Visit Yukon.ca/wildfires anytime for year-round information.

Please note: our office will be closed Monday, September 7th in observance of Labour Day.

Wishing you a safe and relaxing long weekend from all of us at YFNW!

🔥 The Warrior Program is Back This November!Looking for your next step? YFNW's Warrior Program is returning to Whitehors...
09/03/2026

🔥 The Warrior Program is Back This November!

Looking for your next step? YFNW's Warrior Program is returning to Whitehorse from November 16–27, 2026!

The Warrior Program is designed to help youth build confidence, strengthen employment skills, and get ready to take that next step toward the workforce.

📅 November 16–27, 2026 (weekdays only)
📍 Whitehorse, Yukon
👥 Ages 16–30
💼 Currently unemployed

Over two weeks, participants will have the opportunity to build practical skills, prepare for employment, connect with employers and community organizations, and gain tools they can carry forward into their next job.

Registration is now open! 🙌

For more information, email [email protected] or call 867-667-7258

Know a young person who could benefit from the program? Please share this post and help us spread the word!

Yukon First Nations Wildfire is featured in a new APTN News story examining some of the barriers Indigenous wildfire cre...
09/01/2026

Yukon First Nations Wildfire is featured in a new APTN News story examining some of the barriers Indigenous wildfire crews continue to face when it comes to deployment opportunities across Canada.

“We want to see the same and equal opportunity for Indigenous crews across Canada. That’s really what matters most to us.” - Nick Mauro, YFNW CEO

Throughout this wildfire season, YFNW has had trained, qualified and deployment-ready firefighters available to support wildfire suppression efforts. At the same time, international resources travelled to Canada to help meet the demand for firefighters.

Our CEO, Nick Mauro, spoke with APTN about YFNW's experience this season, the challenges within the current interjurisdictional deployment system, and the impact missed opportunities can have on firefighters who train and prepare all season to answer the call.

This conversation is bigger than YFNW. It's about ensuring Indigenous wildfire crews across Canada have equitable opportunities to contribute their training, experience and capacity when communities need support.

We recognize that there are systems and processes governing how wildfire resources move between jurisdictions. We also believe there is an opportunity to examine those systems, address existing barriers, and strengthen the role Indigenous-led wildfire organizations can play in Canada's wildfire response.

We encourage these conversations to happen and are hopeful where they can lead.

Thank you to APTN News and Sara Connors for helping bring this important conversation forward.

Read the full article and watch Nick's interview with APTN News.

Who is Yukon First Nations Wildfire?Yukon First Nations Wildfire (YFNW) is a Limited Partnership owned and operated by n...
08/30/2026

Who is Yukon First Nations Wildfire?

Yukon First Nations Wildfire (YFNW) is a Limited Partnership owned and operated by nine Yukon First Nations. We use inclusive hiring practices, with a strong focus on creating training, employment and leadership opportunities for Yukon First Nations people.

YFNW operates nine Type-1 Initial Attack crews trained to Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) standards. These crews work alongside our partners at Yukon Protective Services from regional wildfire bases across the territory, helping protect Yukon communities, infrastructure and lands.

YFNW also operates two 20-person Type-2 Unit Crews. Our crews are trained to a Type-1 CIFFC standard but are not currently recognized at that level because they are non-government resources. YFNW is advocating to change this so that Indigenous and other non-government crews are recognized according to their training, qualifications and capabilities.

For the past five years, one YFNW Unit Crew has operated under a service contract with the Yukon Government, supporting wildfire response as a territorial asset wherever needed. The crew has also been exported through CIFFC as a Type 2 resource to assist other jurisdictions.

Our model is built around a simple principle: use trained indigenous local capacity first.

We support this approach in the Yukon and across Canada. When qualified local and Indigenous resources are ready and available, they should be given the opportunity to protect their lands, support neighbouring communities and gain valuable operational experience.

Especially before international resources are brought in.

YFNW is proud to work with our partners to strengthen wildfire response in the Yukon while building long-term capacity, opportunity and resilience within Yukon First Nations communities.

08/29/2026

As the 2026 wildfire season comes to a close for our Initial Attack Crew Members, Yukon First Nations Wildfire would like to thank you for your hard work, commitment and professionalism.

Throughout the season, you answered the call and represented Yukon First Nations and the Yukon with pride. On every deployment, especially those outside Canada, you demonstrated the skill, strength and professionalism of our crews while gaining valuable knowledge and experience that will benefit our communities for years to come. The Yukon is better for it.

We also thank our partners at Yukon Protective Services for helping create these deployment opportunities and supporting our crews in gaining important experience.

YFNW will always work to make each season better for you than the one before it. We will continue strengthening our workplace culture and relationships so that you are treated fairly, given equal opportunities and able to deploy to help others in need.

We are proud of everything you accomplished this season. Have a safe, healthy and productive winter and we hope to see you back in 2027.

08/28/2026

As the 2026 wildfire season comes to a close, we want to thank our Unit Crews for their hard work, professionalism and commitment.

This season, our crews made a real difference while deployed in the Northwest Territories, supporting communities and demonstrating the strength and capability of Indigenous-led wildfire response. We are incredibly proud of how they represented YFNW, their communities and the Yukon.

We will continue to advocate for these firefighters and the opportunities they deserve. We wish every crew member a safe and restful shoulder season, and we hope to welcome them back in 2027.

Canada is at National Preparedness Level 5 which is the highest tier there is. That's supposed to mean every available r...
08/25/2026

Canada is at National Preparedness Level 5 which is the highest tier there is.

That's supposed to mean every available resource is already committed, which is why crews from Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand are on the ground in BC and Ontario right now.

Except certified indigenous crews across Canada have been standing by, waiting for a call that hasn't come.

That's not a capacity problem so much as a counting problem and our crews aren't part of the math.

We're asking territorial and provincial governments for real equity: right of first refusal for certified Indigenous crews, and equal standing in how wildfire resources are allocated.

Not a favour. Equal opportunity, for crews who've already proven they're ready.

08/25/2026

Help us preserve Yukon's wildfire history

YFNW is on the hunt for pieces of Yukon's wildfire history, and we'd love your help.

We're especially looking for original Initial Attack Agreements, anything connected to Indigenous wildfire crews, and records tied to the devolution of wildfire responsibilities in the Yukon.

Do you have documents, photos, stories, or other materials tucked away? Or know someone who might? Tag them below or reach out to us directly.

This history belongs to all of us, and we would be honoured to help keep it alive.

This is exactly what we've been saying and now it's on the record.Nearly half of the Yukon government's wildland firefig...
08/21/2026

This is exactly what we've been saying and now it's on the record.

Nearly half of the Yukon government's wildland firefighters were sent out of territory last month to help fight fires in BC and the NWT. Meanwhile, our crews were standing by, trained and ready, and were told there wasn't capacity to send us south to help.

We're not the only ones. New Brunswick's Wabanaki Wildland crew says they're seeing the exact same thing: ready and waiting while international crews are called in instead.

As our CEO Nick Mauro put it: "The wildfire system we currently operate in Canada wasn't made for the transfer of Indigenous resources. It's meant to transfer government resources, and get governments to help each other."

It's time that changed, at the territorial, provincial, and federal level.

We're not asking for a favour. We're asking why we're being skipped.YFNW has trained, certified crews within Canada. Rea...
08/21/2026

We're not asking for a favour. We're asking why we're being skipped.

YFNW has trained, certified crews within Canada. Ready to be on a BC fireline faster than any crew flying in from overseas.

Local. Certified. Ready.

Address

100 Platinum Road
Whitehorse, YT
Y1A6A9

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18676677258

Website

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