83 fires burning

By SARAH DAVISON  Star Reporter

The Yukon fire season is heating up slightly, with 83 forest fires to date. One is a 10,000- hectare blaze burning in the bush near Ross River.

Crews are taking limited action on the Ross River fire because there’s a concern it will reach the Robert Campbell Highway. It’s now burning about 80 kilmetres east of the community, near Pelly Banks.

Last week’s record-breaking temperatures, together with lightning, have pushed 1992 up to third in the heat stakes: only 1992 and 1986, notorious fire years, saw more action at this point in the season.

But there won’t be a repeat performance of the dramatic Haeckel Hill fire of last June, even though smoke from that area can be seen from the Alaska Highway.

There is a forest fire burning there, but it’s well under a hectare in size, a Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development spokesperson said today.

"The fire…is basically dormant," said Nancy Thomson. A drill rig in the area is kicking up the smoke.

Last year, residents of the Echo Valley subdivision were removed, and others in Crestview readied to leave their homes at a moment’s notice when the entire hill went up in flames.

Of the 82 fires to date, 63 have been put out. They include another spot fire on Haeckel Hill, and two near Kusawa Lake.

Nineteen forest fires continue to burn, eight of which are being fought.

They include a small, 29-hectare fire about 12 kilometres north of Mayo, which four firefighters are tackling. A further 20 firefighters are battling another fire covering 20 hectares near Ethel Lake in the Mayo region.

Four fires are burning in the Carmacks region, but only two are being actioned. About 20 firefighters will leave one fire, which burned 18 hectares, to take on another burning north of Little Salmon Lake.

In Watson Lake, crews are mopping up a 22-hectare fire about 150 kilometres north of town. Three others in the region are under observation.

Although the number of fires is stretching upwards, their severity is not. Fire hazards fell over the weekend following moderate showers. No region is reporting extreme conditions, and only Haines Junction and Watson Lake are listed at "Very High."