Department of Community Services

2004 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins

Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2004 Bulletin Archive

Wildfire Bulletin #45

July 13, 2004 - 2:00 PM

Ontario Crew Departing, New Crews Arriving

The Ontario fire crews who have assisted the Yukon in their firefighting efforts over the past few weeks are departing tomorrow. The crews are demobilizing from communities to Whitehorse today.

There are ten more crews from British Columbia arriving in the Yukon tomorrow. Two of the crews are from Smithers and are driving up to station in both Watson Lake and Teslin. There is also a replacement overhead team for the Goldfields Complex coming from Saskatchewan.

Currently there are 102 personnel battling fires in the Goldfields Complex, supported by 9 helicopters, 10 dozers, 4 skidders and 7 water trucks.

The Yukon is using approximately twenty rotary-wing aircraft, three fixed-wing patrol aircraft and three groups of air tankers to assist with fire fighting. One group of air tankers based is in Dawson, one is in Whitehorse, and there is a group being day-based in Mayo.

New Fires-Past 24 Hours
South of Detour Lake CA#16 60 hectares Fire is in a wilderness zone.There is a cabin on site which will undergo site preparation.
Tatchun Creek CA#17 0.1 hectares Fire was battled by fire crews and helicopters. It was declared under control by 10 p.m. last night.

Yukon Fires Being Actioned
Scottie Creek BC#09 180 hectares Fire is being demobilized completely.
Tatchun Creek CA#17 0.1 hectares Fire was cold-trailed by an Ontario crew.
MacMillan CA#09 200 hectares There is a cabin in the area that fire crews are assessing for possible site protection.
Woodburn Creek MA#09 18,760 hectares Fire crews have put 7,500 feet of black line on the west side of the fire. They will continue to do this with the north and south sides.
Tom Lake near Sa Dena Hess mine site WL#26 7,500 hectares Crews are moving north and south for hot spotting.
Frances Lake WL#17 25,000 hectares Crews are working on the northeast corner, where they have put a 1.5 kilometre black line.

Advisories

Travelers are advised to drive along the Klondike Highway between 4 a.m. and noon, as those are slow burning periods. There have not been any significant delays over the past few days. Pilot cars are in place, if required.

Travelers are urged to phone the Yukon Road Report for current updates at 867-667-3710 or 1-877-456-7623 before traveling.

Any residents in the Yukon concerned about smoke are encouraged to call their local nursing station or hospital.

Although the current fire ban has been modified for southern Yukon and the far north, Wildland Fire Management would like to remind people that burning fires only applies in commercial and government campgrounds. The forest floor is drier than it appears. Also, smoke from fires out of commercial and government campgrounds is often reported, and consequently fire crews must go out and investigate.

There have been 189 fires in the Yukon burning over 988, 000 hectares of forest.

-30-

For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750
Report Wildfires - 1-888-798-FIRE (3473)

Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2004 Bulletin Archive