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Department of Community Services
2003 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
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Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #12 June 10, 2003 - 7:30 PM FIREFIGHTER CREW SPOTS FIRE IN WHITEHORSE SUBDIVISION WHITEHORSE – Porter Creek residents can thank a Yukon Wildland Firefighter crew that things did not get out of hand in the Whitehorse subdivision this evening. The crew was on its way in a helicopter to a fire at the Braeburn dump around 6 p.m. when crewmembers noticed smoke rising from the trees behind the Super A supermarket in Porter Creek. Several conifer trees located off Centennial were on fire, and the fire had the potential to spread quickly. "We had dispatched Firecat airtankers and crews to the dump fire in Braeburn. On their way there, they saw flames behind the Super A," said Yukon Duty Officer Al Beaver. "That fire became a priority right away." The airtankers continued on their way to Braeburn, whereas the helicopter landed and the crew went to work on the fire, which is believed to have been caused by people. Two other Wildland Fire Management crews joined them, along with the Whitehorse City Fire Department. The firefighters' combined effort got the fire under control within half an hour. No structures were damaged. “We were very lucky. It could have been much worse," said Beaver. After the Porter Creek fire was contained, the crew from the helicopter continued on its way to Braeburn. That fire had been reported from the Braeburn Lodge shortly after 5:30 p.m. The crew quickly got to work on that human-caused fire. The firecats dropped retardant on the Braeburn fire, and the DC-6 airtanker was dispatched from Dawson City with another load of retardant, which was also dropped on the fire. "The tanker action was extremely effective, and the ground crew stayed on after the DC-6 left," said Beaver. "They are currently still at work on suppressing the fire, and no open flame is visible at this time." Crews are expected to go back to both fires tomorrow morning, to finish mop-up procedures. Meanwhile, Fire Management personnel continue to monitor the Wheaton River fire and the three fires burning east of Kusawa Lake. The total of 27 fires in the territory this season have burned approximately 862 hectares. All but one of the fires have been caused by people. The public is urged to be careful when doing any kind of burning. The recent dry and windy conditions in southern Yukon only assist fire in spreading more quickly. Please report any wildfire activity to the toll-free wildfire reporting line at 1-888-798-FIRE (3473). -30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |