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Department of Community Services
2009 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
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Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #25 July 08, 2009 - 10:00 AM New Fire in Carmacks as Danger Rating Rises One new fire was reported in the territory yesterday in the Carmacks district burning 56 kilometres southwest of the community in the Wildland Fire Management Wilderness Zone. The three-hectare fire is being monitored by officials, as it is currently not threatening any values. Meanwhile, the large fire burning 65 kilometres east of Carmacks is now an estimated 4000 hectares in size with the most significant growth occurring on the west perimeter. Ignition Specialists are developing contingency plans should the fire encroach upon the Robert Campbell Highway. Structural protection has also been established on all identified values in the area. At times, Tuesday visibility was poor on the highway due to smoke in the area. Motorists can expect the smoke to remain for the next few days and are asked to be patient. The fire burning in the Whitehorse district 60 kilometres northeast of the city has grown in size to 1700 hectares. Officials are monitoring the fire closely but no values are immediately threatened. A smoke column may be visible at times depending on the winds and fire behavior. Elsewhere, firefighters continue to make good progress on the fire burning near Sixty Mile Road in the Dawson district. It is expected the seven-hectare fire will be extinguished in the next two to three days. On Tuesday afternoon 24 Initial Attack firefighters and one Agency Rep arrived in Whitehorse to provide further assistance. Following a briefing, the crews were deployed to the Carmacks, Dawson and Haines Junction districts. Later today, a third airtanker group from British Columbia will be arriving in the territory. “These Outside resources have been brought in to provide support to our staff in preparation for increased fire activity,” said Yukon Duty Officer Mike Sparks. “We are expecting a spike in fire activity as the fire danger rating is extreme in many of the districts and the forecast is calling for increased lightning and the hot and dry conditions to continue.” Wildland Fire Management is urging the public to be safe when burning and reminds the public that burning permits are mandatory to burn grass, brush or debris in the territory and that burning permits will be suspended if the fire danger rating is moderate or higher. With the recent fire activity, there have now been 51 fires in the territory burning approximately 37, 913 hectares of forest.
Below: Aerial photographs of the Whitehorse 11 fire.
-30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |
