This is a joint news release between the Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse
During the summer of 2025, Whitehorse residents cleared 217 tonnes of brush from around their homes as part of a FireSmart drop-off program. This is enough brush to fill eight and a half municipal waste trucks.
The drop-off program was a partnership between the Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse. The territorial government paid the Whitehorse Solid Waste Facility’s tipping fees, while the City advertised and managed the program.
Removing brush from around your home is one of the most effective ways to protect your property from wildfire. This program’s success further benefits City of Whitehorse residents by increasing the amount of organic waste that can be processed and sold back to the community as compost.
FireSmart efforts begin at home and I am encouraged that so many Whitehorse residents participated in the program. We are pleased to work with local governments to make it easy for Yukoners to protect their homes and ensure their properties are wildfire resilient. Congratulations to everyone involved with this program’s success.
Reducing the risk of wildfire is a priority for those living in Whitehorse. Raising awareness and supporting individual property owners to take action is key to reducing risk. The City of Whitehorse is working closely with partners to make Whitehorse more resilient to wildfire, and collaborating with the Government of Yukon to support citizens to FireSmart their properties is a great example.
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The Government of Yukon paid the City of Whitehorse $16,823 to cover the tipping fees people would have normally paid.
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1,103 Whitehorse residents took advantage of this program, which ran between July and October.
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The City of Whitehorse’s outreach campaign included social media and radio ads, information for people who received FireSmart home assessments and municipal public service announcements.
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While tipping fees for organic debris are back in place at the Solid Waste Facility, both governments are assessing how to implement the program next spring.
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It’s important to remove all flammable material within 1.5 metres around homes.
Tim Kucharuk
Press Secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
[email protected]
Julia Duchesne
Communications, Community Services
867-332-4188
[email protected]
Matthew Cameron
Communications, City of Whitehorse
867-689-0515
[email protected]