Department of Community Services
2009 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
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Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #16 June 12, 2009 - 11:00 AM Yukon IA Crew Fights Fire in Alaska Three Haines Junction Initial Attack firefighters and a helicopter responded to a 0.5-hectare fire burning in Alaska Thursday evening approximately 18 kilometres west of Beaver Creek. The Yukon firefighters worked the fire late last night, camped on site and continued work this morning. In addition to the Alaska fire, three new wildfires were reported in Yukon Thursday. Just before 11:00 a.m., two fires were discovered burning in a wilderness zone in the Whitehorse district. The lightning caused fires, 145 hectares and 124 hectares in size respectively, are located approximately 63 kilometres northeast of Whitehorse near the Teslin River. Four cabins are within 1.5 kilometres of the fire and as a result, structural protection has been put in place. “This is a standard procedure whenever structures of value are at risk,” said Yukon Duty Officer Mike Sparks. “A further assessment of values in the general area of the fire is continuing today. A Wildland Fire Analysis is also being done today by fire officials to determine what other measures of response are required and monitoring will continue on a daily basis. Thursday evening a third fire was located in the Dawson district approximately 120 kilometres southwest of Dawson City near Los Angeles Creek. The 20-hectare lightning-caused fire is burning in a wilderness zone with no values at risk. The large 21,600 hectare fire in the Dawson district remains active and continues to be monitored daily. Observation is also ongoing for the 1600-hectare fire that crossed the border from Alaska into the Beaver Creek district Wednesday. Demobilization has begun on the 202-hectare fire in Mayo and firefighters hope to have it extinguished in the next few days. In northern B.C., good progress is being made on the 22,500 hectare Smith River fire. The Alaska Highway remains open at this time although motorists may encounter delays. An evacuation alert is still in place for the communities of Fireside, Coal River and Muddy River Indian Reserve #1. Fire officials are reminding the public that an open fire ban remains in effect throughout the territory until further notice. It is being discussed this morning whether or not to rescind the ban but at this time it remains in place. This season there have been 32 fires in the territory burning approximately 22,087.50 hectares of forest. -30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |