Organizers of the Ember Fire Academy plan to relocate the six-day intensive training program to rural Yukon communities to increase volunteer firefighter numbers where shortages exists, according to the academy's fire chief Kiara Adams.

The goal is to attract new recruits from underrepresented groups by introducing them to firefighting skills through the program, with the aim of strengthening rural fire halls, Adams said.

The academy, now in its 11th year, has successfully boosted the ranks of volunteer firefighters around Whitehorse but now aims to address gaps in more remote Yukon communities.

"We've got four recruits this year who are from the communities and we're doing work right now to try and get the Ember program actually moved into the communities," Adams said.

She highlighted

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