Protecting Those Who Protect Us
In partnership with Yukon First Nations Wildfire
“We believe the evidence is already sufficient to justify action. We should not wait for more studies before giving firefighters access to early cancer screening.”
Nick Mauro, CEO, Yukon First Nations Wildfire
We are seeking support and funding for a 2026 Yukon-led
early cancer screening research pilot for 20 Wildland Firefighters
Wildland firefighters experience repeated occupational exposure to wildfire smoke, combustion by-products, and extreme environmental conditions.
As Canada advances the National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting (Bill C-224), there is a clear opportunity to support practical initiatives that contribute real-world experience, data, and lessons learned.
This pilot is designed to support that objective by providing early cancer screening, exposure monitoring, education, research, and baseline health data for wildland firefighters in an operational setting.
Indigenous Leadership at the Core
Indigenous firefighters are the co-leaders of the 2026 Yukon Pilot, infusing the research with essential cultural knowledge, resilience, and frontline expertise. Our cohort—composed of over 50% Indigenous members—prioritizes Two-Spirit and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, as well as women, directly addressing Health Canada’s identified underrepresented groups. By capturing real-time biological and exposure data from these diverse participants, the pilot supports the creation of a more inclusive National Firefighter Cancer Registry
Get Involved
We welcome interest, involvement from:
- Funding and research partners
- Wildland firefighters
- Volunteers with expertise in communications, social media, AI and software
Please email us @ yukon2026pilot@gmail.com
Why this pilot, now?
While the Canadian government has invested significant effort into understanding firefighter cancers, those benefits have yet to reach the remote wildland frontline. We know all firefighters are at a higher risk than the general population, but wildland crews face even greater, unmonitored hazards.
The Yukon 2026 Pilot bridges this gap. As the first “boots-on-the-ground” demonstration of the National Framework (Bill C-224), we are moving beyond policy into real-world action. We are putting visible cancer screening, education, and practical health tools directly into the hands of the firefighters who need them most. Protecting Yukon wildland firefighter crews now.
Check out our web site!
