|Font Size:
|
Contact Us |
Français
Department of Community Services
2003 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
|
Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #5 May 22, 2003 - 4:30 PM SMOKY HAZE THE RESULT OF RUSSIAN FOREST FIRES WHITEHORSE-The smoky haze throughout the Yukon, originally thought to be thin low cloud, is actually the result of the current severe forest fire activity in Russia. "Strong upper level winds coming across from Siberia and Alaska is what shifted the smoke in to the Yukon," said Yukon's Wildland Fire Management Meteorologist Don Green. "Depending on the severity of their fire season and the current weather patterns, it is not uncommon for us to see smoke from Russia in the Yukon," said Yukon Air Operations Supervisor Lorne Harris. "The majority of out of territory smoke usually comes from Alaska though." Since the beginning of the 2003 fire season (as of May 19), over 9500 fires have been reported throughout the Russian forest fire region. As a result close to half a million hectares of forested area and over 163,000 hectares of non-forested land have burned. Last year at this time almost 8700 fires had burned more than 161,000 hectares of forested area and over 163,000 hectares of non-forested land. A large number of forest fires continue to burn out of control in Russia. Currently, their largest forest fire is approximately11,300 hectares and is located in the Chita district. Locally this season the Yukon has had 11 forest fires, all human-caused, that have burned 11.81 hectares of forest. Dry conditions continue to push the fire hazard to the high to extreme level in some parts of the Yukon with no long term relief in the forecast. "By Friday afternoon the haze from the Russian fires should be out of the territory," said Green. "The winds are expected to shift tomorrow morning so we can expect the smoke to be blown away." -30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |