As summer draws to a close, the Village of Mayo in Yukon is already looking ahead to the upcoming wildfire season. Recently, the community finalized its wildfire community protection plan, which aims to identify and address potential wildfire risks in the area.
Collaborating with the municipality, the First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun, and the territory’s Wildland Fire Management, the plan outlines strategies to prevent and mitigate these risks. Mayo’s mayor, Trevor Ellis, emphasized the importance of implementing the plan, particularly focusing on physical measures such as creating fire breaks through thinning.
The urgency of the plan is heightened by past intense fire seasons, including instances when the community had to evacuate due to nearby wildfires. Residents are also being urged to take individual actions to reduce fire hazards on their properties, like clearing gutters and keeping flammable items away from homes.
Mayo becomes the sixth Yukon community to finalize a wildfire protection plan, following Dawson City, Faro, Haines Junction, Whitehorse, and Teslin. The overall goal is to have every community in Yukon equipped with a protection plan by 2026.
Luc Bibeau, manager of Yukon Wildland Fire Management’s prevention and mitigation unit, highlighted the importance of these plans in preparing for inevitable wildfires. The aim is to minimize the risk of property damage and protect lives during fire incidents.
