Current and former wildland firefighters came together to advocate for presumptive cancer care ahead of the 2025 wildfire season.
Wildland firefighters are calling on the Government of Yukon to provide the same presumptive cancer care already offered to structure firefighters.
At a Yukon Employees Union media event on Tuesday, Regional Protection Officer Alex MacPhail spoke about his experiences and the inherent health risks involved in firefighting.
“The work is sweaty, dangerous labour, in an environment filled with deleterious and unhealthy chemicals.” said MacPhail. “Standard initial attack situation on a new fire is a crew or two arriving by helicopter or truck, unloading several hundred plus pounds of gear, and walking it all through rough terrain and smoke to surround a fire while the crew themselves is surrounded by flammable forest material.”
“People love this job. People travel across the country and live out of cars or in tents just to do this job. But at some point, the health risks, the financial burdens, and the time spent away lead most people to decide that they have to move up in the organization, or they have to move out of the organization.”
“People here do not feel that they will be cared for in the event that they get cancer from work,” MacPhail continued. “They look forward to lengthy, invasive proceedings while at their lowest point to determine if they deserve care for an illness that is a known risk of the environment that they work in.”
“People joke about it with a morbid fatalism, and regularly voice disbelief that we are so late in adopting presumptive cancer, compared to other provinces and firefighting jobs.”
Yukon Employee’s Union President Justin Lemphers added his voice in support of the amendment to presumptive cancer care. He pointed to other jurisdictions that provide presumptive cancer care for wildland firefighters based on a precautionary principle.
“Precautionary principle basically means if you believe there is sufficient evidence that there’s a risk, you act on the risk,” said Lemphers. “And this government knows that they have information that demonstrates that there is a risk. There are so many reports that have said that exposure to the wildland fire products of smoke, particulates, [and] carcinogens increases your chance of cancer.”
“There’s often a statement that the Yukon is built on mining,” Lemphers continued. “There is industrial activity – and evidence of that activity – all throughout the wilderness. The idea that this is pristine wilderness that is being burned with no other foreign particulates or contaminants is a myth.”
Former Dawson City Fire Chief Jim Regimbal, another firefighter on Tuesday’s panel, agrees.
“Fires don’t burn clean anymore,” said Regimbal. “They burn through our communities, vehicles, treated wood, garbage trucks, and anything in their path. Our firefighters are inhaling far more smoke from trees and pretending otherwise is a dangerous justification for action.”
Yukon NDP Leader Kate White has been raising this issue in the Yukon Legislative Assembly since 2021. Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn says he is waiting on scientific studies before agreeing to make the amendment.
Regimbal says that wildland firefighters have waited long enough.
“We don’t need to wait for 100 per cent proof when we already have 100 per cent risk,” said Regimbal. “Wildland smoke contains benzene; formaldehyde; PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), also known carcinogens. Our firefighters breathe that in for weeks, even months, at a time. They’re not just being exposed; they’re being saturated.”
“Let me be clear; this is not just a matter of policy; it’s a test of our values. Do we honour the people who step up when the smoke rolls in? Who walk into danger so others don’t have to? Or do we leave them behind when they need us most?”
“Yukon has a chance to do what’s right. Not later; now. Let’s stop hiding behind excuses. Let’s lead with courage and compassion. Let’s protect those who protect us.”
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