Department of Community Services
2009 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
|
Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #14 June 10, 2009 - 8:00 AM Firefighters Kept Busy with Lightning and BC Support Increased lightning activity Tuesday afternoon triggered two new fires in the territory. An aircraft flying near Lake Labarge discovered the first incident. The fire, burning on Cap Mountain 21 kilometres northeast of Whitehorse was actioned by the DC-6 airtanker group that was in the nearby area following another smoke report. Initial Attack firefighters were also deployed by helicopter and worked the fire through the evening. The fire is now contained and will be further assessed in the morning. “It was fortunate the DC-6 happened to be in the area as the tankers were able to provide very quick response which assisted in keeping the fire small,” said Duty Officer Lorne Harris. “We were expecting lightning activity this week and as a result were well prepared and had the necessary resources in place.” Shortly after the Cap Mountain fire, a second incident was reported near Mt. Lansdowne, approximately 11 kilometres northwest of Tagish. Airtankers from the Cap Mountain fire were then rerouted and actioned the blaze. Initial attack firefighters were also deployed via a second helicopter and were able to extinguish the fire Tuesday night. Yukon resources were also kept busy Tuesday providing support to three fires burning in British Columbia near the B.C./Yukon border. Resources based in the territory were first dispatched to a fire in British Columbia following a request by the B.C. Forest Service just after 5:00 p.m. The fire was burning near Turtle Lake, approximately 20 kilometres south of the B.C./Yukon border on the east side of Tagish Lake. Four initial attack firefighters responded to the fire by helicopter in addition to an airtanker group. Ground crews worked into the evening and managed to contain the fire. They will camp on site and begin work on the fire early in the morning. At 8:00 p.m., BC also requested support fighting a fire south of Watson Lake approximately three kilometres from the community of Lower Post. Two airtanker groups, one helicopter and six firefighters from the Yukon aggressively attacked the two-hectare fire. British Columbia also deployed an airtanker group and all the resources worked together late into the evening. The fire will be further assessed Wednesday morning. Soon after this incident a Yukon birddog officer noticed a fire 13 kilometres from the Lower Post blaze. A Yukon airtanker group worked the fire and firefighters will be sent out Wednesday morning. “The sharing of personnel and equipment between jurisdictions is not uncommon during a fire season,” said Harris. “It’s fortunate we were able to provide assistance and utilize some of the resources we had brought in for support.” Fire officials are reminding the public that an open fire ban remains in effect throughout the territory until further notice. As a result, all open fires, including campfires, the use of fireworks and burning in any landfill or dumpsite is prohibited. Campfires are still permitted in designated campgrounds with approved fire burning devices such as metal-ringed fire pit. Burning is also still allowed with closed cooking utensils such as barbecues and small cook stoves. Meanwhile, the smoke that may presently be visible in parts of the territory including Watson Lake, Mayo, Dawson City, Whitehorse and surrounding areas is the result of large fires already burning in Yukon and northern B.C. Depending on the wind and fire activity this smoke could be present for the next few days. Good progress continues to be made on the Smith River fire burning in northern B.C. The fire is now an estimated 20,537 hectares due to more accurate mapping from the air. Crews are continuing to work along the highway. Burn-off procedures were started Tuesday on the west side of the fire in order to increase the fuel free guard between the fire and the communities and highway. In Yukon, crews continue to make good progress on the fire burning 50 km west of Mayo and hope to begin demobilization soon. Daily observation also continues on the 21,600-hectare fire burning 90 km from Dawson City in a wilderness zone. This season there have been 19 fires in the territory burning approximately 21,837 hectares of forest. -30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |