Department of Community Services
2009 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
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Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #20 June 25, 2009 - 12:30 PM Fire near Mount Sima Successfully Contained by Coordinated Response At 9:00 a.m. this morning, the Haeckel Hill tower discovered a fire burning just off the Copper Haul Road near Mount Sima, 10 kilometres south of Whitehorse. The City Fire Department received notification of the incident, as Wildland Fire Management crews had not yet begun their shift. Within an hour, an airtanker group was dispatched to the site and managed to successfully contain the spot fire and prevent any further growth. WFM Initial Attack crews were also dispatched to the fire upon arriving for their shift. Currently, several firefighters are working to extinguish the fire from the ground. The fire is believed to have been human-caused, and is under investigation. “If the fire had been later in the day with a bit of wind, it might have been a very different scenario,” said Jim Kathrein, Southern Lakes Zone Duty Officer. “Thanks to the City of Whitehorse for an excellent coordinated response.” Meanwhile, the 21,600-hectare fire located 80 kilometers from Dawson City continues to burn in a wilderness zone, and no values are at risk. Outside the territory, wet weather in the past few days has aided Yukon resources working with Alberta and Ontario fire crews to contain fires in northern Alberta, the main one being a 10,000-hectare fire burning 30 kilometres from Fort McMurray. Twenty-six Yukon firefighters and one airtanker group continue to make good progress in the area, and may return home next week. In northern B.C., the Smith River fire near the Alaska Highway, 23,000 hectares in size, has shown little activity and the evacuation alert in the area has been rescinded as of June 22. The Alaska Highway between Watson Lake and Fort Nelson is open and motorists should expect no further delays. This season there have been 39 fires in the territory burning approximately 22, 647 hectares of forest. -30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |