26 Fires Currently Burning Throughout Territory

Monday, 27 May 2019 11:28

One of the fires burning in the territory (Photo courtesy of Yukon Wildland Fire Management)

According to Yukon Wildland Fire Management, there are currently 26 wildfires burning throughout the territory. 17 of the 26 fires in the territory so far this year have been human-caused.

According to Yukon Wildland Fire Management Information Officer Mike Fancie, there are currently 26 wildfires burning throughout the territory.

One notable recent fire includes the Bear Creek Fire around Haines Junction, which has grown considerably in recent days.

Fancie says while no property in the vicinity of the town is at risk, the fire is not currently contained.

"Our most recent mapping that has been coming in this morning shows that the fire has grown to about 100 hectares. Right now, the human-caused fire is not under control, and we have 20 firefighters, five bulldozers, two water tenders, and four helicopters working the fire. The goal is to stop the fire from spreading to any local property or infrastructure.Right now, I want to emphasize the town of Haines Junction is not threatened."

Fancie says there's also a combination of wildfires being monitored and being contained around the territory.

"The Top of the World (wildfire) has been brought under control. Fires in the Dawson area have also been calming a little bit. However, we currently have two large fires. One is around Pig Creek and another is around Thistle Creek that we continue to monitor. Nothing has changed in those incidents. Over the weekend we had two human-caused fires, including one in Ross River that grew to 1.5 hectares that is under control. We also responded to a fire just outside of Long Lake Road in Whitehorse yesterday."

With 19 of the last 26 wildfires burning in the territory being human-caused, Fancie says the public needs to continue to exercise greater caution around wildfire prevention.

"Approximately 73% of this years wildfires have been started by humans. This is concerning for us. We hope as the summer goes on, Yukoners take note of the hot and dry conditions. Whether it's choosing to burn if they don't have to, excercising extreme caution if you have to, or soaking campfires when putting them out until there cold to the touch, or saying something to someone being irresponsible around a fire,please do your part to make sure these wildfires are not being human-caused."

Despite the increase in fires in the territory, the air quality advisory for Watson Lake and southeastern Yukon have since been dropped.