Residents in West Dawson say lack of reliable options to cross Yukon River leaves them at risk

Reliable access to emergency services such as an ambulance, or a fire truck, can mean the difference between life and death.

And that's a serious concern for people who live in West Dawson, across the Yukon River from the main town site in Dawson City, Yukon. There's no easy way across the river once the ferry stops running for the year and before the winter ice-road crossing opens.

It's become even more of an issue in recent years when the river hasn't always reliably frozen over to allow for an official winter crossing.

Roger Mendelsohn, 84, has lived in upper West Dawson for decades. He said living there is great for the most part but he moved into town this year for the winter because his family is worried that if the river didn't freeze again, and something happens to him, there would be no way to get to him in a timely manner.

"I've fallen twice now off the roof," said Mendelsohn. "Luckily there were no rocks around. I survived but it was very embarrassing, and somewhat sore."

Mendelsohn recounted another time he was buried up to his shoulders in snow after he was trying to rake it from his roof. He said he managed to crawl out.

"It's an awful feeling when you've got a lot of snow on top of you," he said. 

Mendelsohn chuckles about it now, but his daughter Anne Mendelsohn called these incidents "worrisome."

She said she feels like once the George Black Ferry is pulled from the Yukon River, the government leaves West Dawson residents to fend for themselves.

The department of Highways and Public Works is responsible for operating and maintaining the ferry, and it's also responsible for the roads on the west side of the river.

Both Roger and Anne Mendelsohn said that after the ferry stopped running in mid-October, the government stopped maintaining the roads — which also creates the potential for an accident to occur.

Anne said she understands how weather and river conditions can determine whether or not the government can build a winter ice crossing, but she said when it comes to people's lives and safety it's time for the government to take a proactive approach, not a reactive one.

That could mean having an ambulance stationed on the west side of the river, or subsidizing helicopter services for residents, or even building a bridge, she said.

"All the lives over there — they are responsible for all of those lives," she said. "It's time for them to step up now before something really serious happens. What does it take for them to do something?"

The only way across the Yukon River right now is by helicopter, according to the town's search and rescue leader, John Mitchell. 

Residents say the price to charter a helicopter to take them across the river hovers around $900.

There are a couple of options for chartering helicopters in Dawson right now, but Mitchell says that won't be the case in the next few weeks. He says one company will now be based out of Whitehorse, and the other will be reducing its local crew of pilots.

But helicopter availability isn't the only thing, says Mitchell — it's also whether those helicopters are suitable for stretcher evacuations. 

Mitchell said he's been co-ordinating action plans with residents in West Dawson, but he feels the Yukon government needs to come up with a safe and reliable crossing option to allow for emergency services to reach those who need it, when they need it.

"The west side [of the river] has been getting more popular as an area of residence," he said. "It's also needed because it takes the pressure off the [housing] shortage here in town, so it should be supported better."

CBC News requested an interview with the department of Highways and Public Works. Nobody was immediately available to comment.