NWT wildland firefighter Adam Yeadon takes a selfie with his crew. Photo: Submitted
The death of Adam Yeadon highlights the need for danger tree assessor training, says the coroner of the Northwest Territories (NWT).
The recommendation is one of nine in a report released Wednesday into the death of Yeadon on July 15, 2023.
The 25-year-old died when a tree fell on him during a wildfire near his home community of Fort Liard, which is located in the southwest corner of the territory.
Yeadon’s father, Jack, said officials confirmed the tree fell on his son while he was working with a chainsaw.
“I think they’re wonderful recommendations,” Jack told APTN News from his home in Fort Liard Thursday. “But they’re a little late.”
Accepts recommendations
Yet Jack says he accepts the recommendations from N.W.T. chief coroner Garth Eggenberger that call on the territorial Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC) to improve training and protective equipment for wildland firefighters.
Adam, a member of the Acho Dene Koe First Nation in Fort Liard, was only about 35 kilometres from home when he was battling the blaze. He was survived by his partner and their daughter.
“He loved that job,” Jack said, his voice growing emotional. “He loved being in the bush and using his chainsaw.”
The territorial government did not respond before deadline to APTN’s inquiry about whether it would adopt the recommendations.
Jack says he hopes the recommendations protect others and prevent future deaths.
After the fact
“They’re after the fact but I think they’re on the mark in terms of not putting firefighters out there at risk,” he said.
Eggenberger released his report without any further instructions or comments.
His recommendations are:
– The Department of ECC should ensure that all crew leaders/supervisors have danger tree assessor training before overseeing firefighters working in the field.
– The department should ensure that anyone certified to use a chainsaw as part of their work has danger tree assessor training before using a chainsaw during live fire events.
Third-party review
– The department should conduct a third-party review of all safety equipment provided to its firefighters to ensure that they meet or exceed industry standards.
– The department should consider the more protective Bullard Wildfire Helmet FH911XL as a potential replacement for all front-line firefighters to help prevent future deaths.
– The department should use the incident command system (ICS) whenever firefighters are deployed during any type of fire operations — suppressing and controlling wildfires, constructing fire or containment lines, equipment operation, etc.
– The department should review fire crew minimums when deploying personnel to fire events and ensure that no less than three “Type 1” certified wildfire fighters are deployed to active wildfires where they are engaging in initial attack, sustained attack and mop-up.
– The department should only deploy “Type 3” firefighters for sustained attack and mop-up activities, and not as initial attack wildfire fighters.
Minimum staffing numbers
– The department should establish specific fire crew personnel minimum staffing numbers for each task and ensure that crews are not deployed unless the minimum crew personnel number is met.
– The department should develop and maintain a standardized personal protective equipment (PPE) manual for all personnel within the Forestry Management Division to be included in the greater ECC personal protective equipment (PPE) manual, which will be reviewed every three years, at minimum.
A spokesperson said in an email that there wasn’t an inquiry or inquest into Adam’s death, but the coroner can make recommendations to “specific agencies and government departments to improve services/procedures/policies to prevent deaths in similar circumstances.”
