The territorial government and the Northwest Territories Fire Chiefs Association have just unveiled a new program that formally integrates N.W.T. wildfire and community emergency response. While the Wildland Urban Interface program is aimed at responding to a need for “stronger integration” between wildland and structural firefighting during wildfire threats, some responsibilities remain delegated at the municipal level.
Today, Environment Minister Jay Macdonald and Municipal Affairs Minister Vince McKay joined NWT Fire Chiefs Association President Travis Wright, Territorial Fire Marshal Craig Halifax and Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Manager Mike Westwick to announce the launch of the new wildfire management and community protection program. The event took place in the city of Yellowknife at the Legislative Assembly’s Great Hall, with Wright and Westwick joining the meeting virtually.
Officials said the new program responds to a “key gap” revealed in the 2023 wildfire operations review, the need for stronger integration.
The Wildland urban interface refers to areas where development infrastructure “meets or intermingles” with forests and other elements of the natural environment.
These types of fires are considered more complex than other types of structural fires or wildland fires.
The program makes way for a more coordinated system of mutual aid during these types of wildfire events, integrating wildfire and structural firefighting capabilities.
The program integrates wildland and structural fire response through the training of community structural firefighters in wildland-urban interface response.
Westwick said this will strengthen the effectiveness of wildfire response efforts across the territory.
Environment Minister MacDonald said that the program was created in response to unprecedented wildfires that devastated the territory in 2023 and unprecedented drought conditions.
The new program draws from recommendations outlined in the 2023 wildfire operations review.
Wright said the program was born out of conversations at the wildfire preparedness conference in 2024.
“It was also the top conversation coming out of that conference.”
Work began to create the program prior to the 2025 wildfire season.
“We started to have monthly and even biweekly meetings to just sprint and make sure that we could get everything done that we needed to,” said Wright.
Halifax explained that as of Thursday, four communities are taking part in the new program, including Inuvik, Hay River, Fort Smith and Fort Simpson. However, Macdonald said that the integration principles have already been demonstrated in communities like Fort Providence, where a wildfire came within 900 meters of the community just last summer.
“Just last year in 2025, local fire fighting departments in Whati and Fort Providence worked shoulder to shoulder with GNWT Wildfire Crews putting their training into action and successfully defending their communities. Multiple fire departments from communities like Fort Smith, Hay River and Fort Simpson stepped up and assisted [wildland crews]. In preparation for the 2026 season, we have invested in equipment purchasing two new structural protection units and funding new units for two municipalities,” said Macdonald.
Westwick said the program focuses on strengthening community protection plans. This would be done in close consultation with each community to help build co-ordinatied knowledge needed to respond appropriately.
McKay said that the Ministry of Municipal and Community Affairs has a working group with the Indigenous governments and with emergency management organizations.
“The Indigenous government working group that they have doesn’t necessarily tie to this, other than their local EMO requesting resources. So, at any time, the local EMOs can request resources. This program would be one of those resources.”
Macdonald said the new system has increased “capacity and capabilities” to better protect communities, infrastructure and property during wildfire events.
Macdonald added that the GNWT is committed to “continuing integration” of the wildland and structural firefighter capacities, recognizing these as “a vital component” of emergency preparedness.
McKay said that this is “version one” of the program, with the Wildland Urban Interface Coordinating Group set to review and make improvements to the program annually.
Halifax said that personal protective equipment for structural firefighters remains a municipal responsibility, despite the change in their scope of response.
“It is up to municipalities to ensure their firefighters have the right PPE for the jobs they are being asked to do so.”
Participating fire departments would have to evaluate their needs, said Halifax.
“There is priority programs available through the government and other ways to get that gear, not just all through municipal dollars, but they have that responsibility.”
The office of the Fire Marshall is working with fire chiefs taking part in the program to assess equipment needs for firefighters to operate safely, said Halifax.
“If there was concerns for assessing those individual fire departments then we address it at that time, if there’s any short falls within working needs for their staff.”
