The Wildland Fire Management branch helps:
- keep people and their homes safe from fires in Yukon communities; and
- ensure future fires do not damage communities and buildings.
As a crew member, you’ll work from 1 of the Yukon’s 6 fire centres as the backbone of our responses. Teams of 3 firefighters work together to respond to fires and other emergencies.
If needed, your crew may also have the chance to work outside of the Yukon helping other fire crews. This may be in Canada or internationally.
Wage
Wildfire crewmembers are paid between $29.57 and $34.17 per hour.
Training
Your career starts at a 2-week training camp in late April where you’ll learn the basics of your trade. These skills include:
- an understanding of how fire weather and fire behaviour work;
- the different ways to manage wildfires;
- use of firefighting tools like pumps, hand tools and ground ignition devices;
- chainsaw use and maintenance;
- general bushcraft knowledge, orienteering and radio operations; and
- safe travel on all-terrain vehicles and in helicopters.
Once you’re trained, you’ll hold qualifications you can use for the rest of your life:
- WHMIS and Transportation of Dangerous Goods
- Restricted Operator Certificate (Aeronautical)
- Incident Command System Level 100
- Standard First Aid and CPR-C (at minimum)
On the job
You can generally expect:
- a normal work day to start with a briefing that could involve anything from initial-attack readiness or risk reduction work;
- to take part in a physical fitness routine each day on base;
- to spend up to 14 days in a row applying your skills if you’re assigned to a wildfire incident;
- work days to be 12 to 16 hours long;
- overtime work if you're on multi-day wildfire assignments; and
- hard work but you’re making a difference when people count on our help the most.
How to apply
The 2026 crewmember application period is now closed.
Essential qualifications
Consideration of your application is solely based on the information you provide in your resume. Your resume must show how you meet the following qualifications:
- Experience reading and writing of basic documentation
- Experience in outdoor activities
- Prior wildland firefighting experience is an asset
Desired knowledge, skills and suitability
- Interest in living or working in a wilderness environment
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Ability to take direction and follow instructions
- Ability to take initiative, exercise good judgment and make sound decisions in stressful situations
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in diverse and demanding conditions
- Ability to recognize hazardous situations and take corrective actions.
Conditions of employment
- Successful completion of crewmember training and the WFX-Fit fitness test
- Valid Yukon Class 5 driver’s license (or equivalent)
Job requirements
- Long work hours and stand-by availability may be required during periods of high fire danger
- Travel to communities within Yukon and elsewhere may be required.
- In periods of elevated fire activity, you may be required to work remotely, with limited notice, for up to 14 days at a time.