Yukon-wide fire ban in effect
Campfires, fireworks and all other open fires have been banned across the Yukon, due to the high risk of forest fires in much of the territory.
The fire ban, which was signed on Thursday by Yukon forest supervisor Dan Boyd, takes effect immediately. It prohibits all open fires, including campfires, the use of fireworks, and burning in landfills.
Campfires are allowed in metal fire pits in designated campgrounds. As well, barbecues with lids and small cook stoves are permitted, but Yukoners are being urged to use those products with extreme caution.
The Yukon-wide fire ban comes as the territorial government’s Wildland Fire Management Branch raised the fire danger rating to extreme in much of the Yukon, including in Whitehorse, where a citywide open fire ban has been in effect for almost a week.
Extreme fire ratings are also in effect Thursday in the Beaver Creek, Carmacks, Mayo and Ross River areas.
High fire danger ratings are in the Dawson City, Haines Junction and Teslin areas, while Old Crow and Watson Lake have moderate ratings.
As of Thursday afternoon, 11 wildfires have been reported in the Yukon so far this season, burning a total of about 116 hectares of forest.
Yukon crews help with Alaska wildfire
Meanwhile, Yukon wildland fire crews were sent late Wednesday to an area near Tok, Alaska, where a large forest fire has shut down part of the Alaska Highway in that state.
A 40-kilometre stretch of the Alaska Highway between Tok and Cathedral Bluffs, just on the other side of the Alaska-Yukon border, has been closed since the fire was reported 18 kilometres west of Tok on Wednesday evening.
The Alaskan village of Tanacross, as well as the Eagle subdivision, have been evacuated as a safety precaution, according to state officials.
Yukon wildfire information officer George Maratos said what began as a two-hectare fire quickly grew into a 688-hectare blaze that evening.
“To say it was a serious fire would be an understatement,” Maratos told CBC News earlier on Thursday.
The Wildland Fire Management Branch decided to send two of its air tankers to Alaska, even though three new forest fires were reported in the Yukon on Wednesday.
But Maratos said the three fires — all caused by lightning — were burning in wilderness areas and did not pose any risk to properties or other values.
“So we were able to accommodate the request for support, and we sent both of our air tanker groups to Alaska and they worked the fire until 1 a.m.,” he said, adding that the air tankers have since returned to the territory.
So I guess its a good thing I’m flying and not driving out this week. Be a bummer to get stuck in Tok.
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