Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2008 Bulletin Archive

Wildfire Bulletin #29

August 08, 2008 - 11:45 AM

More Fire Activity in Watson Lake

A fire, believed to be lightning caused, was discovered in the Watson Lake fire district shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The 1.5 hectare fire burning near Quartz Lake, approximately 65 kilometres north-east of Watson Lake, was discovered by a birddog pilot traveling to Watson Lake.

“At this point we are just monitoring the fire as it is burning in a wilderness zone,” said Duty Officer Lorne Harris. “There is a cabin, believed to be abandoned, a few kilometres away but it’s currently not threatened.”

This recent fire is the second fire in the Watson Lake district in the past 48 hours. Warm and dry conditions this week in the southern portion of the territory have increased the fire danger rating and resulted in an increase in fire activity.

Meanwhile, the Firecat airtanker group has, once again, been deployed to British Columbia to provide assistance with the province’s current fire situation. The three airankers and birddog aircraft were deployed to Fort Nelson Thursday and are expected to remain there for a week.
Under the Mutual Aid Resource Sharing (MARS) agreement the aircraft can be returned to the territory within 24 hours if necessary.

So far this season there have been 58 fires in the Yukon burning over 15,000 hectares of forest. The public is reminded that they are required to obtain a burning permit to burn grass, brush or debris in the territory between April 1 and September 30 and burning permits are suspended wherever the fire danger rating is moderate or higher.

Wildland Fire Management would like to thank the public for their continued cooperation in reporting wildfires. If you see a wildfire please call 1-888-798-FIRE (3473)

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For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750
Report Wildfires - 1-888-798-FIRE (3473)

Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2008 Bulletin Archive