Department of Community Services
2009 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
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Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #45 August 07, 2009 - 11:30 AM Lightning Triggers Four More Fires Holdover lightning in the Ross River and Watson Lake area resulted in four new fires in the territory Thursday evening. All four fires are located in remote areas with no values at risk. “We expect to pick up several fires, like these ones, as a result of recent lightning activity in the territory,” said Duty Officer Mike Sparks. “With the high likelihood of more lightning fires being found it is critical the public follows the open fire ban and avoid burning of any kind.” The first fire Thursday was discovered by a patrol plane in the Watson Lake district at approximately 6:48 p.m. burning 170 kilometres north of Watson Lake in the wilderness zone with no values at risk. Shortly afterwards, a 15 hectare fire was confirmed in the Ross River area burning 150 kilometres northeast of the community in the wilderness zone. The other Ross River district fire is three hectares and also in the wilderness zone 140 kilometres northeast of Ross River. The fourth fire was found just before 9:00 p.m. burning 95 kilometres northeast of Watson Lake, also in the wilderness zone. A number of fires continued to be active Thursday in the territory. The Little Salmon Lake fire located 65 kilometres east of Carmacks has now been accurately mapped at 38,000 hectares. Four helicopters and a number of firefighters will continue to work the fire today with the priority remaining the protection of values and the safety of the firefighters. An evacuation alert remains in place for some citizens living in or visiting the area along Little Salmon Lake and the Magundy drainage corridor adjacent to the Robert Campbell Highway. Those residents who have yet to check in are asked to do so at either of the information stations on the highway or by calling the Carmacks Wildland Fire Management Zone Office, at (867)-863-5271. The evacuation alert is a precautionary measure to prepare residents in case an evacuation is necessary. In the Teslin district, five fires remain active however, cloud cover and higher relative humidity Thursday helped limit fire behavior. The fires continue to burn in the wilderness zone but residents can expect the fires to be visible in the Teslin area depending on the fire activity. Cold ash may also fall in the community today. Firefighters and equipment are based at the Teslin fire district should the fire threaten any values. A radio station (105.5) has been set up in the Teslin area where residents can obtain the latest fire information. Public information sites are also set up throughout the community. In the Watson Lake district, 22 fires are currently burning with action being taken on one fire and the remainder under close observation by fire officials. Cooler temperatures helped limit fire growth Thursday. Work continues on the McKinnon Lake fire burning adjacent to the Yukon – B.C. border approximately 15 kilometers southwest of McKinnon Lake and 16 kilometres south of km 1036 of the Alaska Highway. Suppression objectives are being met on the fire and demobilization is now underway. In the Whitehorse district, fire behavior increased on the fire burning 60 kilometres northeast of Whitehorse near the Teslin River. Now 27,500 hectares, fire officials are closely observing the fire and sprinkler kits have been activated on identified values in the area. Paddlers are asked to avoid the area as the fire is burning on both sides of the river and conditions are very smoky. In the Dawson district a number of fires are burning throughout the area in the wilderness zone. These fires are remote and all values remain protected. Heavy smoke can be expected in Dawson City and surrounding areas especially in the late afternoon and early evening when the fire is most active. 28 additional firefighters from Alberta arrived in the territory Friday morning to provide further assistance with the current fire situation in the Yukon. Their arrival coincides with the departure of 28 other Alberta firefighters who were required to take days off. The newly arrived firefighters join 50 Northwest Territories firefighters and numerous other Outside personnel now working in the territory. Due to the current conditions in the territory fire officials are asking hunters to avoid areas where fire activity is occurring if possible or delay their trips until the fire situation eases. Fire conditions remain very volatile right now. A map showing the current fire locations is posted at the department of Environment office at 10 Burns Road in Whitehorse. A smoky haze remains in much of the territory, and although the smoke has dissipated in some areas these conditions can be expected to continue pending on fire activity. Motorists should also prepare for delays and possible closures on the Robert Campbell Highway and Nahanni Range Road due to existing fire activity. Further road conditions information can be obtained by calling 511 or visiting yukon511.ca. Fire officials are urging the public to abide by the current open fire ban this weekend and limit their burning to barbeque and closed lid stoves, and even then to do so with extreme caution. This season there have been 116 fires in the Yukon burning an estimated 230,977 hectares of forest. -30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |