Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, wildfire season is here, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or ENR, and our dedicated fire management team are ready.
Today I'd like to provide an update on what ENR has done to get ready for the 2021 fire season and the role residents and communities across the Northwest Territories have in preventing wildfires.
Mr. Speaker, preparation for the wildfire season begins with people. To that end, we have made sure that we have well-trained and well-prepared staff and contractors in place to respond to wildfires across every region and that they are ready to go. We have 37 four-person crews ready to attack early and fast. This includes ten Indigenous-owned companies contracted to provide local fire services. This will serve not only to keep us safe but to build and maintain the skills needed for careers in forest management.
Mr. Speaker, protecting our people and our community is top of our mind as we deliver these essential services in a pandemic. Our wildfire team has maintained strong COVID-19 protocol which the pandemic began in 2020 made some adjustments to how we fight fires to keep people safe.
This year is no different. We continue to have exposure control plans in place designed to protect our staff from the office to the fire line. We have had hired additional staff in smaller communities to make it much less likely we will need to bring in firefighters from other regions or from outside NWT. We have also added two additional air tankers to help us respond quickly when fires are small. We have specific requirements for firefighters if they go to other jurisdictions to help, and we've worked closely with those other jurisdictions to ensure best practices are followed.
Mr. Speaker, our government is targeting significant reduction in human-caused fires in the NWT over the next five years, and everybody has a role to play. It starts with personal responsibility. It is about taking the extra time to douse your campfires with water. It is about getting a burn permit if you're cleaning up yard waste and following the defined safety requirements. It is about doing your part to stay informed on wildfire dangers in your area and choosing not to have open fires if the fire danger is high or extreme, and it is about understanding that fire restrictions are put in place for reasons and follow them.
Mr. Speaker, our government invested in outreach and education to give folks the tools to prevent wildfires. Our staff worked with schools and community organizations to provide practical advice to those heading out on the land. They work with local governments to give support and advice as they implement community wildfire protection plans.
Mr. Speaker, even with the best efforts towards prevention, there will always be wildfires. That is where FireSmart principles come in. FireSmart is a practical guide to proactively reduce the risk of damage to your home or cabin before a wildfire. Many of the actions can be done easily and do not cost much, and every single one is proven to make a real difference. We are encouraging individuals and communities to step up and do what they can. We are planning events to build FireSmart awareness at the grassroot level. We are getting these principles out online and over the airways. We are ready to work with homes and cabin owners looking for FireSmart advice.
Mr. Speaker, as the ground dries out and fire danger risks rise, I urge everyone to take responsibility for preventing and protecting against wildfires seriously. It is good for our territory. It's good for our firefighters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.