Minister recognizes one half century of firefighting

Wildfire in the Yukon has been suppressed for 50 years.

In 1946 the lands, parks and forests branch of the federal Department of Mines and Resources mobilized the first active forest firefighting force. The force was the result of the efforts of Fred H. R. Jackson, the Yukon’s first forest engineer, who had worked with the military command over the previous two years to establish a basic fire organization.

The first fire was fought on May 2, 1946 at mile post 1036 of the Alaska Highway, today not far from kilometre 1660.

Forest fires were fought by less specialized forces before this time. The May 31, 1931 edition of the Dawson Daily News reported that young Pierre Berton was one of the volunteer firefighters battling a hillside blaze started by a careless smoker.

In 1996 the team is bigger and its name longer.

Today, seven full-time and about 82 seasonal employees of the fire management and field operations division of the renewable resources directorate of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development carry out the job of locating and extinguishing wildfires.

All Yukon fire fighters are trained in a wide variety of firefighting and safety areas such as fire behavior and suppression, standard first aid, and radio communication. Typically a crew consists of a crew boss and four members. Throughout the territory, 12 seasonal crews strive to suppress fire.

Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Ron Irwin extended his congratulations, Friday May 17, to Yukon forest firefighters.

"The occasion of the 50^th anniversary is a cause for commemoration and to remember all those who protected the lives and health of others while fighting forest fires," Irwin said. "We remember, in particular, Phil Collins and Simon Beauchamp who lost their lives fighting fire."

The government is looking for memorabilia such as photographs, maps, stories, and old fire equipment for a display to be donated to Yukon Archives or a museum.

Keith Kepke, manager of special projects with the forest resources, is responsible for the project. Items can be dropped off at the forest resources office at mile 918, kilometre 1478, of the Alaska Highway.