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2009 Bulletin Archive

Wildfire Bulletin #19

June 22, 2009 - 10:30 AM

Fire in Whitehorse Quickly Extinguished

One new fire was reported over the weekend approximately three kilometres from the Whitehorse city centre on Sunday, burning on the east side of the Yukon River.  The 0.3-hectare fire is believed to have been caused by an abandoned campfire, not properly extinguished.  City firefighters were the first to respond to the blaze after it was reported around noon, but due to rough terrain in the area, requested assistance from Wildland Fire Management, who sent six initial attack firefighters and one airtanker group to action the fire.   

“We decided to use water instead of retardant in the airtankers because the fire was so close to the Yukon River,” said Air Attack Officer Walter Nehring, who responded to the fire with Wildland Fire Management’s Firecats.  “It was burning in grass and brushy fuels just off the Long Lake Road but was tricky to get into with aircraft because of the uneven terrain.”

The fire was extinguished Sunday evening and will be patrolled later today.

Meanwhile, firefighters were able to extinguish the 2-hectare fire burning 15 kilometres northwest of Pelly Crossing this weekend. The 21,600-hectare fire located 80 kilometers from Dawson City continues to burn in a wilderness zone with no values at risk. 

Outside the territory Yukon firefighters working with Alberta and Ontario fire crews are making good progress on the large, 9,500-hectare fire burning 30 kilometres from Fort McMurray.  The 26 Yukon firefighters join about 350 other personnel working from the base camp.  Rain is expected today in the area and crews will continue work on containing the fire. 

In northern B.C., crews continue to make progress on the Smith River Fire near the Alaska Highway. The fire is mapped at over 23,000 hectares.  The Alaska Highway is open and motorists should expect no further delays, as smoke has subsided in the area.    
   
Despite cooler temperatures, the public is still urged to be responsible with fire.  Officials remind the public that they are required to obtain a burning permit to burn grass, brush or debris in the territory.  Burning permits will be suspended if the fire danger rating is moderate of higher.

This season there have been 38 fires in the territory burning approximately 22, 647 hectares of forest.

Below: An airtanker does a drop over the Whitehorse fire.

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Current Fire Danger Ratings
Burning Restrictions
2009 Bulletin Archive