Dawson City and Tr'ondek Hwech'in to team up during emergencies

The City of Dawson and the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation will form a "joint force" in the event of an emergency, says the town's fire chief.

The recently formed agreement also means the city and First Nation's offices will share some resources and staff, at no extra cost to either group.

"As far as I know this is the first one of its kind in Yukon and probably most of Canada," says Dawson Fire Chief Jim Regimbal. "It just shows how well the First Nation and the municipality work here in Dawson."

Regimbal says joint emergency planning will be crucial during a fire, flooding or power outages. 

The Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation has about 1,100 members living in Dawson, according to the First Nation's website.