Department of Community Services
2004 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
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Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #51 July 17, 2004 - 12:45 PM Fire 20 Miles Northeast of Atlin Columns of smoke were spotted by members of the public Friday afternoon near Atlin, British Columbia. The first report came into Yukon Wildland Fire Management (WFM) at 2:00 p.m. Detection aircraft found the fire to be 20 miles northeast of Atlin and 10 miles from the Yukon and British Columbia border. British Columbia fire officials are currently using two helicopters and a twenty person unit crew to fight the fire. WFM is assisting with a tanker group from Whitehorse, and a Convair group from Watson Lake to tie off the north end of the fire today. It is approximately 65 hectares in size. There are currently no values at risk. In other news, the Watson Lake fire near Frances Lake has crossed the Robert Campbell Highway on the southern end. As a result, the highway is currently closed from Watson Lake to the Canol Road Junction. There is also traffic control at the Watson Lake and Canol Road Junction. For more information please call Highways and Public Works at 1-877-456-7623 or 867-667-3710.
Advisories The Robert Campbell highway is currently closed from Watson Lake to the Canol Road Junction, or kilometre 355, due to forest fire activity. There is traffic control at Watson Lake and the Canol Road Junction. For more information on highways, call highways and public works at 1-877-456-7623 or 867-667-3710. Travelers are also 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. Any residents in the Yukon concerned about smoke are encouraged to call their local nursing station or hospital. Smoke is now lifting in many areas of the Yukon. 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 195 fires in the Yukon burning over 1,200, 000 hectares of forest. There are currently 164 active fires. -30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |