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2004 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins

Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2004 Bulletin Archive

Wildfire Bulletin #55

July 21, 2004 - 12:00 PM

Beaver Creek Fire Actioned By Fire Crews

A public report of a fire was received around nine o'clock yesterday evening from the owner of the Koidern Lodge near Beaver Creek.

The fire was burning two kilometers south of the lodge on very steep, high terrain several hundred meters above the highway. Two air tanker groups were dispatched from Whitehorse to the 0.3 hectares fire and blanketed it with retardant. Today a helicopter and an initial attack crew from Haines Junction and a Beaver Creek fire crew are working on the fire. It is not threatening the highway or the lodge and should be under control later today.

In other news, the Carmacks fire near Drury Creek near the east end of Little Salmon Lake is being held at 15 hectares. There is a cat-guard around the fire and hose line is being placed completely around the fire's perimeter today.

Whitehorse fire #21, the Lewes Lake fire, is being demobilized today. It is currently under control and will continue to be monitored.

New Fires-Past 24 Hours
Yukon River CA#21 1000 hectares Fire is in a wilderness zone. There are no values at risk.
Koidern BC#15 0.3 hectares Fire is in a transitional zone. Initial attack took place on it yesterday and crews are continuing to work on it.

Yukon Fires Being Actioned
Goldfields Complex DA #9,10, 21,30, 37 Over 128,000 hectares French Gulch (21): Crews cooling hot spots on the northwest portion of the fire. Parts of the fire are reburning. The fire received some precipitation. Dempster (30): Crews mopped up the small jump fire to the northeastern corner and the southwestern line. Both spots fires are now contained. Crews continue along the Dempster Highway to mop up any hot spots. Dominion (10): Ignition team completed a 1,000 hectare burn off and are confident that the bulk of the fuel is removed from the head of the fire and are confident it should not spread any further. Haystack (09): Crew is mopping up site on southwest corner, and another crew is working on the northwest corner of the fire.
Thistle Creek Area DA#04, 15,25 40,000 hectares total Site protection is established for structures in the area.
Frances Lake WL#17 22,000 hectares Some flaring up yesterday on the north end along the highway. Ground crews, and bucketing ongoing.
Tom Lake near Sa Dena Hess mine site WL#26 9,000 hectares Demobilizing near complete, fire will be under patrol. Smoldering along north side.
Stewart Lake WL#04 9,000 hectares Has crept down to Frances River. Crews are being deployed to contain fire to the east shore.
Chain Lakes CA#08 17,174 hectares Fire was flaring on northeast but is not threatening any values.
West of Coghlan Lake CA#20 0.3 hectares Fire will be cold-trailed today.
Lewes Lake/ Carcross Road XY#21 2.5 hectares Crews are doing a clean-up. The fire is well under control and crews will be demobilizing today.

Advisories

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. For more information on highways, call Highways and Public Works at 1-877-456-7623 or 867-667-3710.

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 208 fires in the Yukon burning over 1,257, 000 hectares of forest. There are currently 171 active fires.

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Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2004 Bulletin Archive