FireSmart

Ingram

In November, City of Whitehorse contractor will be reducing wildfire hazard by performing fuel management adjacent to 113 and 123 Mallard Way in Ingram.

The goal of this work is to improve defensible space and reduce fuel load on City land in close proximity to residences. Prescription for this site has been prepared by Yukon Government’s Wildland Fire Management branch and will involve:

• Removal of ladder fuels (coniferous tree branches below 2 m that enable fire to climb into the tree canopy)
• Removal of immature conifers
• Disposal of dead/down trees and other debris

All deciduous and most mature conifer trees will be retained. Trees that constitute a hazard may be removed.

Wood suitable for fuel will be left on site for public salvage. This wood is available at no cost, and up to date mapping and availability information can be found at: wildfires.service.yukon.ca/pages/firesmart-sites.

During this project, there will be noise and equipment usage, along with trail closures. Please give staff room to work safely.

Porter Creek

In November, a City of Whitehorse contractor will be reducing wildfire hazard by performing fuel management adjacent to the 200 block of Centennial Street in Porter Creek.

The goal of this work is to improve defensible space and reduce fuel load on City land in close proximity to residences. Prescription for this site has been prepared by Yukon Government’s Wildland Fire Management branch and will involve:

• Removal of conifer trees to achieve 3 – 5 metre stem spacing of conifer trees with proximity of spruce removal over pine trees
• Removal of smaller diameter trees over larger trees when option is available to achieve stem spacing
• Removal of ladder fuels (coniferous tree branches below 2 m that enable fire to climb into the tree canopy)
• Removal of immature conifers less than 4 m
• Disposal of dead/down trees and other debris

Deciduous trees will be retained. Dead standing trees and those that constitute a hazard will be removed. Debris will be chopped on site and removed, there will be no burning.

Wood suitable for fuel will be left on site for public salvage. This wood is available at no cost, and up to date mapping and availability information can be found at: wildfires.service.yukon.ca/pages/firesmart-sites.

During this project, there will be noise and equipment usage, along with trail closures. Please give staff room to work safely.

The City’s FireSmart Home Assessment program will close for the 2025 season on Friday, November 21.

Thank you to all those who have welcomed us onto their property to explore actions that could be taken to reduce the impact of wildfire.

Free home assessments will return in the Spring. To get on the waitlist, please email [email protected].

• FireSmart Begins at Home with Self-Assessment (PDF checklist)
• FireSmart 101 45-60 minute training
• FireSmart BC landscaping hub (list of plants for different growing conditions including Whitehorse)
• Have questions about fire safety inside your home or business? Check out the Whitehorse Fire Department’s Home Safety Checklist.

Join the FireSmart Canada Neighbourhood Recognition Program (NRP) and help make your community safer from wildfires. By participating, you could receive up to $1000 for your efforts, but more importantly you’ll also receive help in assessing your wildfire hazard and planning risk reduction activities. Whether you’re working on fire-resilient landscaping, home hardening, or community preparedness, City of Whitehorse specialists will guide and support you every step of the way. Contact [email protected] to learn more. 

We are safer when our communities work together to reduce risk.

1. FireSmart Starts at Home
Embers cause the majority of home ignitions in wildfires. That’s why it is important to ensure the area around your home is free from combustible materials. Clearing the first 1.5 meters around your home is one of the most effective ways to reduce your home’s ignition risk. Book a free FireSmart Home Assessment at Whitehorse.ca/Firesmart to learn how you can take action to protect your home. Following FireSmart reccomendations will drastically improve your home’s resilience in a wildfire.

2. Become a Champion
Creating a FireSmart home is an ongoing process. Inspire your neighbours to join you! Talk to them, share resources, and work together to reduce the cost of mitigations. Encourage them to download the FireSmart Begins at Home app to do a self-assessment, or book a FireSmart Home Assessment with us.

3. Fuelwood Process
Many greenspaces in city limits have downed wood. Residents may be permitted to remove this wood and use it for fuel. This reduces the amount of fuel present in the event of a wildfire. Learn more on the City’s website here.

4. Get FireSmart Funding
FireSmart Canada’s Neighbourhood Recognition Program can help you unlock funding to conduct FireSmart work. Follow the steps on their website, or email [email protected] for more info.

5. Work with your Community Association
If you have a community association or other non-profit, you can propose FireSmart projects on public land. Start by reviewing the information here, or email [email protected].

6. Learn More
The Wildfire Awareness Society is a local nonprofit that promotes FireSmart in Whitehorse. Sign up for their newsletter by clicking “Join Us” on their website. To learn more, find out about their events, or volunteer, visit wildfireawareness.org.

• City of Whitehorse Emergency Resources
• Prepared BC: Household Preparedness Guide (PDF)
• Government of Canada Get Prepared
• Know what to do: Get help if phones do not work during an emergency

Download the FireSmart Begins at Home App from Firesmart Canada through the App Store and Google Play.

Find out about today’s wildfire situation on the Government of Yukon’s Wildfire Hub.

This year, the City has partnered with FireSmart BC to bring the FireSmart Plant Tag Program to Decora, Canadian Tire, and Yukon Gardens!

Look for our eye-catching FireSmart Plant Tags at the following garden centres to find trees and shrubs that are less likely to endanger your home in the event of a wildfire:

• Canadian Tire – May 24
• Decora – June 7
• Yukon Gardens – June 14

About FireSmart Landscaping
There are no fire-proof plants. However, plants with the following characteristics do not provide significant fuel or increase fire intensity:

• moist, supple leaves
• water-like sap with little or no odour
• limited build-up of dead material

Note that fire-resistant plants may become more risky if they are neglected and dead material accumulates.

Click here to download a list of FireSmart plants that are suitable for the Yukon’s climate.

By making strategic landscaping choices, you can make your property more resilient to wildfire. Here are some simple steps you can take to reduce your property’s risk of damage caused by wildfire:

• Keep grass cut below 10 cm
  Grass shorter than 10 centimetres is less likely to burn intensely, reducing its ability to ignite structures. Whenever possible, you should also ensure that your lawn is well hydrated, as dry grass has a higher flammability potential.
• Be aware of which plants and trees are on your property
  Coniferous trees, with cones and needles, are highly flammable and should not be within 10 metres of your home. In the Yukon, this means pine, spruce, and fir.
• Know your property’s ignition zones
  Learn the 4 priority structure ignition zones around your property. Work with your neighbours in any overlapping priority zones! Check out the structure ignition zone poster here.

Every year FireSmart Canada and the Yukon Government fund wildfire preparedness days for Yukon communities. In 2025 the following Whitehorse communities received funding for FireSmart events: 

• Cowley Creek 

• River Ridge 

• Copper Ridge 

• Mountainview Golf Course 

• Mary Lake 

• Wolf Creek 

• Whistlebend 

• Northland Trailer Park 

• Hillcrest (part of Neighbourhood Recognition Program) 

• Wildfire Awareness Society 

Follow us on social media for the latest news on these exciting community events or email [email protected] if you’d like to get involved. 

Do you have a FireSmart idea that would benefit Whitehorse? 

In preparation for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 2, FireSmart Canada is offering $500 grants for initiatives that enhance community wildfire preparedness. 

Applications and details are available at firesmartcanada.ca. 

Any Whitehorse groups preparing an application are encouraged to contact city staff at [email protected] for assistance in preparing their application.