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Department of Community Services
2007 - Yukon Wildfire Bulletins
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Current Fire Danger Ratings Wildfire Bulletin #36 August 13, 2007 - 10:45 AM Firefighters Action Abandoned Campfire in Carmacks Firefighters responded to an abandoned campfire over the weekend burning in the Carmacks fire district at Frenchman Lake. The fire, burning approximately 25 kilometres east of Carmacks, was detected Saturday burning on an island in the middle of the lake. Due to the location of the fire firefighters had to travel by boat to the incident to extinguish it. This fire was one of four new fires reported on the weekend. “The fire is an example that abandoned campfires are still a concern in the territory,” said Duty Officer David Milne. “Fortunately this fire was quickly extinguished but with warm temperatures expected in most of the territory though the week it is critical that the public properly extinguish all their fires.” Also on Saturday, the Tantalus Butte coal mine fire in Carmacks surfaced through a new vent hole and ignited some forest fuels. The coal mine fire has been burning underground since 1978 and from time to time, as it did Saturday, shows increased fire activity. Fire officials immediately dispatched airtankers to the site to slow the spread of the fire. The area in and around the coal mine is considered too dangerous for Wildland Fire Management ground crews to be deployed because of the threat of cave-ins. The fire is now showing little fire activity. The other two fires reported on the weekend were both lightning caused incidents discovered Sunday in the Dawson district. Both of these fires are spot size and are burning in remote wilderness zones with no values at risk. They will just be monitored at this time. With the latest fire activity there have now been 96 fires in the territory this season burning more than 45,000 hectares of forest. With the weather expected to be warm through the week in much of the territory the public is asked to be cautious while burning and report any wildfires they notice to 1-888-798-FIRE. -30- For Yukon Wildfire updates, call 1-800-826-4750 Current Fire Danger Ratings |