Department of Community Services

2004 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins

Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2004 Bulletin Archive

Wildfire Bulletin #49

July 15, 2004 - 4:00 PM

Alaska Fire Close to Yukon Border

If flying conditions permit, Wildland Fire Management (WFM) will be assessing the Gardiner Creek fire in Alaska. The fire is burning approximately three kilometres from the Alaska/Yukon Border north of Beaver Creek. The fire is estimated at 20,000 to 25,000 hectares and is active. WFM wants to evaluate the fire activity as there are values on the Yukon side of the border. The assessment will help in determining if site protection on these values may be required in the future.

In other Alaska fire news, the town of Eagle is presently on evacuation alert due to fires burning close to the community.

As warm dry conditions and lightning are in the forecast for much of the Yukon through much of the weekend, WFM is anticipating increased fire activity. Initial attack capabilities are being augmented in parts of the territory in the event of new starts. There are currently 348 personnel working for WFM. Amongst our own Yukon personnel, are firefighters from New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

New Fires-Past 24 Hours
Carcross Road, Bear Creek XY#20 0.01 hectares Fire was actioned by the Mount Lorne VFD and Whitehorse fire crew and was declared out today. The cause of the fire was lightning.
Yukon Fires Being Actioned
Goldfields Complex DA #9,10, 21,30, 37 Over 127,000 hectares Dempster (30): Spot fires by the highway are nearly extinguished. Crews would like to contain a larger spot fire by the fire using dozers. French Gulch (21): Crews have access to the south end of the fire. Dominion (10): Crews have been working along the highway. There will be a cat-guard put up on the east side of the fire today. Haystack (09): Fire is active on the northeast and southeast corners.
60 Mile River DA#24 2,226 hectares Area is heavy with smoke and fire is active. Structures are unable to be checked due to smoke.
Fortin Lake RR#19 1,000 hectares Little activity on fire. Fire is smoldering but is expected to pick up when smoke clears.
Tom Lake near Sa Dena Hess mine site WL#26 7,500 hectares Northeast corner of fire has become active. This is of lower concern to crews because the corner is in the mountains away from values.

Advisories

Travelers are advised to drive along the Klondike Highway between 4 a.m. and noon, as those are slow burning periods. 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 outside of commercial and government campgrounds is often reported, and consequently fire crews must go out and investigate.

There have been 192 fires in the Yukon burning over 1,200, 000 hectares of forest. There are currently 158 active fires.

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For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750
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Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2004 Bulletin Archive