Ontarians bolstering Yukon firefighting efforts

by KATHLEEN GOLDHAR  Star Reporter

A team of 40 expert firefighters from Ontario has arrived in the Yukon and are helping fight the 1,700-hectare fire near Haines Junction today.

"They are here, working today," said Elaine Shorty, information officer for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Originally scheduled to arrive Tuesday, the Ontario crew was delayed in Thunder Bay, Ont., when their aircraft developed mechanical problems. An Air North plane finally got the crew here yesterday afternoon.

The seven Ontarians will be added to the already eight bulldozers, four water tankers, five helicopters, two water skimmer air tankers and six overhead fire fighting specialists working to put out the flames burning one kilometre north of MacKintosh Lodge on the Alaska Highway.

All in all, there were 110 people working to put the fire out.

A fairly quiet, cooler day, yesterday helped keep the fire form spreading, said Shorty.

Objectives for today are to keep the fire at bay and to continue to provide protection around existing structures like the lodge and other improvements near Bear Creek.

Firefighters will also continue to strengthen hose lines, establish cutlines north toward the east flank and set up pumps at Bear Creek bottom, she said.

Current weather conditions for today were expected to be partly sunny in the early afternoon, with clouds moving in later in the day. There is the chance of showers, and temperature are estimated to be about 18 degrees with a light wind form the southwest.

The human-caused fire began last Saturday. But so far, southerly winds out of the Alsek Valley have keep the flames from reaching the nearby community of 850 people.

Meanwhile, 3,000 hectares have burned near Primrose Lake. Shorty reports that seven people are fighting the human-caused fire to protect existing structures in the area and to reduce the loss of selected lands of the area first nation's interest.

There are two air tankers and one bird dog on the fire site.

The objectives for the seven fighting this blaze today are to contain one portion of the fire to stop it form spreading into an adjacent valley.

Whitehorse residents may expect smoke and haze from the Primrose fire for the next couple of days.

There are 14 fires burning in the territory. Of those, only the Primrose and Haines Junctions fire are being fought. The other 12 are being monitored.

Officials are asking the public not to drive around the area or stop to view or photograph the fire.

Excursions or camping in the areas near the fire or in the burn area are not encouraged. Walking in a burn area is dangerous because burning often weakens ground support, causing ash which might give way underfoot or cause a tree to fall.

Boating is not advisable on Pine Lake because of water pick-up by the water bombers.