Yukon firefighters still responding to calls, even in expired protective gear

When volunteer firefighters were called last week to respond to a devastating fire at the community centre in Tagish, Yukon, many of them were using expired equipment.

"Fortunately, or unfortunately, we have folks who are trying to help their community and are willing to work with this old gear," said Rick Seaman, the fire chief in Tagish.

"You've got dedicated people here who are willing to do just about whatever it takes to help their community."

For at least a year, volunteer firefighters in Tagish and other Yukon communities have been serving their community using expired equipment.

The Association of Yukon Fire Chiefs says about 80 per cent of volunteer firefighters in the territory are wearing expired protective equipment, putting them in danger and in violation of occupational health and safety regulations when they respond to emergencies. The expired gear mainly includes articles like coats, pants, boots and helmets, according to the association.

"Probably 90 per cent of our personal protection equipment is expired," said Seaman. "We've been trying for about a year to get some new equipment."

Last week, Yukon's Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn said that new equipment has been ordered for the territory's firefighters, and that two-thirds of the gear requested would arrive "shortly," while the rest will be tendered soon.

Seaman said he's grateful the territory has ordered new gear, but it's not clear when the gear will arrive, or how it will be distributed among the departments in need.

In the meantime, Seaman said his team — there are about 10 volunteer firefighters in Tagish — will continue using expired equipment until it's replaced. He says that puts him in a tough spot as a fire chief who wants to protect the community while also being "responsible for people's health and safety."

"We probably should not be responding at all given our gear is expired. It's a tough call."

Still, Seaman said his department will respond to any calls, even with expired gear, but may have to take extra precautions when doing so.

'Just isn't good enough'

Former volunteer and casual firefighter Russ Hobbis was only 19 when he joined the Whitehorse fire department in the 1980s. He said that for years he, like many volunteers today, was using gear that did not meet regulation standards, or sometimes had no gear at all. 

He said he initially joined the department because he loved the adrenaline rush when responding to a call, but he stuck with it because loved helping people even more.

According to Hobbis, things were different in the 1980s and '90s when it came to being a volunteer, as opposed to a paid, professional firefighter.

"At that time, we were kind of second class to a full-time firefighter," Hobbis told CBC News. "We were still wearing rubber boots and canvas jackets, and full-time firefighters had turn-out gear — but we were still expected to do interior attack and rescue."

He said as a volunteer he rarely had use of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), except for interior attack or rescues. He says he breathed in a lot of toxins.

"There was more than one occasion I was throwing up from breathing in smoke," he said.

In 2023, Hobbis was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He blames years of exposure to smoke and toxins.

Hobbis said he's an example of why firefighters always need to have proper, certified equipment. He said it's unacceptable that in 2025, so many of the Yukon's volunteer fire departments are using expired gear.

Hobbis also said the government's promise that new equipment is on the way "just isn't good enough."

"It shouldn't have lapsed," he said. "The fire chiefs would have let the department know that they needed the gear. There's no excuse for this."

The community services minister was not available for an interview with CBC News.

A government spokesperson told CBC News by email that the fire marshal's office has ordered 32 helmets, 37 pairs of gloves, 49 hoods and 35 sets of jackets and pants.

The email also stated that the equipment is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks and that the fire marshal's office will place a second order to address any remaining personal protection equipment needs, and replace items expiring within the next year.