The Whitehorse Fire Department saw a slight increase in calls in 2022, for everything from structural fires to false alarms, according to a summary posted by the department.

The number of structure fires rose by three from 25 in 2021 to 28 last year, representing an increase of 12 per cent.

Whitehorse Fire Chief Jason Everitt told the Star Thursday the structure blazes involve everything from house fires to shed fires – and everything in between.

“It’s one of those anomalies,” he said. “Some years are good, some years not so good.”

Everitt said the department typically sees a fluctuation in the number of structure fires.

“An increase of only three last year is not a huge increase, but if we continue to see that trend climb, then we would want to take a look at it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Everitt has announced he’ll be leaving Whitehorse at the end of March, after he uses his vacation time. He will return to Saskatchewan, where he served previously with the Prince Albert-Melfort Fire Department.

He said he has accepted a position he applied for with the Canadian Armed Forces at its 15 Wing in Moose Jaw.

“I was actually here on a defined-term (three-year) contract and that time was coming up so I needed to figure out what was happening next,” he said.

“The Yukon has always been on my bucket list,” he added.

“I do not regret it. It has been a wonderful experience, and I know already I going to miss Whitehorse and the area.”

Everitt said he knows he is leaving the city in the hands of very capable firefighters.

Everitt said the city has retained a recruitment firm to find a replacement for him. The current competition is open until the end of the month, he said.

Until someone is hired, said Everitt, deputy chief Jason Wolsky will be the acting chief.

The number of chimney fires in Whitehorse fell to eight in 2022 from 10 in 2021 and 14 in 2020, according to the summary.

Everitt said it’s difficult to pinpoint the decrease in chimney fires. It could be that people are burning less wood or are doing a better job of keeping their chimneys clean, he said.

The chief said his department has been aggressive over the last few years to encourage people to keep their chimneys clean and to burn properly.

He hopes the decrease in chimney fires is a reflection of the department’s effort to promote FireSmarting activities, he said.

The number of grass fires fell by 12 per cent, from 67 in 2021 to 59 last year.

Everitt said the decrease may again be related to an increase in people FireSmarting their properties.

“I hope that is at least partially responsible.”

The number of vehicle fires fell to 13 last year from 16 in 2021 and 12 in 2020, representing a decrease of 19 per cent in the number of vehicle fires in 2021.

The fire department responded to 93 incidents involving motor vehicles compared to 90 in 2021, representing an increase of three per cent.

Firefighters responded to 128 public service-agency assist calls.

Everitt noted that every time there is an incident involving the RCMP or Emergency Medical Services the department also responds.

The department was involved in seven rescues, including the rescue of three people who became stranded on the walls of Miles Canyon. Firefighters were involved in 13 rescues in 2021.

The number of false alarms increased to 303, up 63 or 26 per cent compared to the 240 false alarms in 2021.

Everitt said the rise in false alarms is partially a reflection of more homes and buildings equipped with fire alarms. It’s a trend being seen right across the country, he said.

The department also responded to 26 calls reporting a gas leak, down by 49 per cent compared to 51 reports of a gas leak in 2021 and 38 in 2020.