Yukon’s Fire Marshal’s Office recently delivered a new truck to Champagne, Yukon, enhancing the scene safety response unit’s (SSRU) ability to respond to fires.
The new vehicle is a 2024 Ford Super Duty F-350 XL pickup, equipped with a 300-gallon water tank and a pump capable of delivering 300 gallons of water per minute. The SSRU’s primary function is to secure a scene and prevent a fire from spreading to other properties until the arrival of the nearest fire department.
Kiara Adams, Yukon’s fire marshal, highlighted the truck’s importance for the community. “It makes it fairly simple and easy for a volunteer to be able to deploy the hose reel with a hundred feet of hose on it,” she noted.
Champagne, a small community with a 2021 population of 22, often relies on volunteer fire departments in Ibex Valley and Hootalinqua, both of which can take up to an hour and a half to arrive.
Heather Hougen, a member of Champagne’s SSRU, emphasized the significance of the new truck. The team, comprising up to 12 members, conducts monthly training sessions. Formed in September 2023 following the 2020 Keno City Hotel fire, the unit experienced a real-world test last summer when they responded to a lightning-caused tree fire.
“It was a real eye opener on how quick something can happen and how vulnerable you are,” Hougen recalled. She mentioned that the unit, with community aid, managed to extinguish the fire before the arrival of external help. “We’re proud of what we’re doing,” she added.
Adams stated that proper equipment is essential for communities without close fire departments. Across the territory, there are six SSRU teams, including those in Ross River, Pelly Crossing, Old Crow, Destruction Bay, and Keno City. Another truck is currently being equipped in Whitehorse for delivery to yet another community.
“Our role as first responders is to make sure that we’re prepared and adequately equipped to be able to meet the needs when they come,” said Adams, emphasizing the importance of readily available resources. She also mentioned that her office relies heavily on territorial financial support to fund such initiatives. “It’s very important and critical that we have the resources for the territory for us to respond adequately,” she added. Adams reiterated the critical need for adequate resources. “It’s critical. It’s like any emergency service. When you need it, you need it dearly.”
