Forest fires reach a record high of 244

By LAUREL JENKINS  Star Reporter

Yukon forest fires burning to this date in the season have reached an all time high today. There have been 244 fires burning to date, surpassing the number to Aug. 22 in 1989, which was 214.

That year, the total number of fires during the season, which usually ends in September, was 244.

Meanwhile, forest fires producing thick smoke over the weekend are getting much-needed rainfall today.

"The largest blazes are getting rain except Mayo," said Dick Seaman, duty officer for the federal forest fire fighting branch in Whitehorse.

There are 90 fires burning across the territory today – 77 are being monitored and 13 are being fought.

Seaman couldn’t say how many fires of hectares are burning along the Dempster Highway – plagued with smoke on the southern portion for about 100 kilometres for at least two weeks.

The only road closed in the Yukon today is the Clear Creek Road near Mayo, said territorial transportation maintenance branch spokesperson Allan Baranyk. It was closed last week when fires came within two kilometres of the roadway. The fire has now gone down into the valley about four to five kilometres from the road.

Baranyk notes that the department has put up barricades on the road, but some miners are using the road anyway at their own risk.

The North Canol Road was closed last week from Wednesday to Saturday, and the South Canol Road from Thursday to Sunday.

Road foremen in each area of the territory consider the distance of the fire from the roadway, wind direction and strength, weather, and the amount of flames and smoke in deciding whether to close roads.

"The smoke has pretty well cleared and it’s raining, so everybody’s smiling today," said Baranyk.

At Stewart Crossing, two millilitres of rainfall was recorded over the weekend, and visibility there is now 35 kilometres, he said.

Baranyk notes there is still some smoke in the Carmacks area.

Human activity has caused 63 fires, and 181 have been caused by lightning, with 149,865 hectares burned. Costs have been $327,947 for presuppression and $2,586,646 for suppression to date.

There are now three forest fires being fought near Whitehorse and Dawson City, two near Carmacks, Mayo and Ross River and one near Watson Lake.

People with respiratory problems have been suffering recently with the thick smoke.

A Whitehorse General Hospital spokesperson said about five patients with respiratory ailments were given ventolin treatments Thursday night, when the smoke arrive in Whitehorse, but no one was admitted to hospital.

A ventolin treatment is a form of inhalation therapy which acts as a bronchodilator and helps to open up the breathing passageway.

The Mayo nursing station reports that two patients have been given ventolin treatments die to problems intensified by the smoke.

The Pelly Crossing nursing station reports that there has been concern about the smoke, but no patients have been treated.

A nurse at the Ross River nursing station wouldn’t comment on how many patients, if any, were treated, saying she wasn’t at liberty to release that information. No on in the Department of Health an Social Services was available to provide more information today.