New truck to beef up fire response in Champagne, Yukon

Yukon's Fire Marshal's Office delivered a brand new pickup truck to Champagne's scene safety response unit (SSRU) last week.

The unit's main objective is to secure a scene and prevent fire from spreading to other properties or structures until a neighbouring fire department arrives. 

The tiny community, which had a population of only 22 people in 2021, relies on the Ibex Valley and Hootalinqua volunteer fire departments to put out fires. That response could take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half depending which department answers the call first.

That's why the new truck is important. 

Kiara Adams, Yukon's fire marshal, said the 2024 Ford Super Duty F-350 pickup has a 300 gallon tank in the back and a pump that's capable of pumping 300 gallons of water per minute. It also has a one-inch hose and nozzle on a booster reel. 

"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 said.

"Do something instead of watching"

Heather Hougen, a member of Champagne's scene safety response unit, said there are up to 12 members who meet up for training once a month.

The unit formed in September 2023, following a recommendation that stemmed from the Keno City Hotel fire in 2020. 

She said their training was put to the test within a year – when it responded to a tree fire last summer within the community. It had been struck by lightning. 

"It was a real eye opener on how quick something can happen and how vulnerable you are."

Hougen said her unit, with the help of community members, were quick to act and put the fire out before outside help arrived. That's when she knew how important it was to have a response team in the community.

Hougen said the new truck is a form of validation. She's looking forward to learning everything about the truck and how it works during the next training session.

"We're proud of what we're doing," she said.

Proper equipment critical for small communities

Adams said there are currently six SSRU teams across the territory. There are also units in Ross River, Pelly Crossing, Old Crow, Destruction Bay and Keno City.

She said another truck is currently in Whitehorse being outfitted with the same equipment. Adams said it will be delivered to another community with an SSRU.

Adams said it's extremely important for communities without a fire department close by to have proper equipment, training, and resources readily available to them in the event of an emergency. 

Although, she said, prevention is key.

"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," Adams said. Those needs come at all hours of the day, 365 days a year, she said. 

"It's very important and critical that we have the resources for the territory for us to respond adequately," she said. 

Adams said her office heavily relies on financial support from the territory to make things like this happen. She said the government has shown it's committed to improving fire services across the Yukon, but she knows more support is needed in order to provide high quality service.

"It's critical," Adams said. "It's like any emergency service. When you need it, you need it dearly."