Smoky conditions return to Dawson City

by DAN DAVIDSON  Star Correspondent

DAWSON CITY - As the third week of fire season drew to a close, federal officials reported 59 fires underway, three of which had started in the Mayo district over the Canada Day break.

Two of the most recent fires near Mayo were classed as observation only fires, while the third was a .2-hectare blaze near the Frances Plateau which was being "actioned."

In Dawson, four fires continued to cause trouble and there was much morning and evening smoke around the community between last Thursday and Sunday. Things tended to clear somewhat during the day and it remained sunny, the sun burning through the haze with a stubborn luminosity. This morning broke with cool, windless conditions.

The Dawson 7 (Moosehide) fire had grown to 1,600 ha by the time it was completely surrounded by a Cat guard. As of Friday, Paula Webber, a communications officer for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, said it was active and producing a lot of smoke, but within its perimeter.

Local fire manager Mike Collie confirmed this on Friday afternoon. At that time, #7 was being handled by a nine-person sustained action team from B.C., plus a six-man first nation crew, two skitters for hauling logs, a D6 Cat on standby, and two helicopters (a 212 and a 206D) for flying support.

"This weather is challenging us," Collie said. "It's a real dirty burn and it will be active for quite a while, but we won't let anything get up and run. The tankers are close to town."

Dawson #11, north of Dawson near the Chandinu River, received some limited action on its south flank, to keep it from coming back toward #7. The wind has been gusty and northwesterly, creating some cause for concern.

Said Collie: "It took a good run down to the river, and did spot onto an island there where Steve Kormendy's cabin is, but we went in there with an IA (initial attack) crew and mopped that up today." That fire also has a 15-person crew and a couple of choppers to support its camp.

The Sulphur Creek fire (Dawson #4) was described as having slowed down and had been remapped at 7,200 ha. Other fires being actively fought were at Garner Creek and Ballarat Creek.

The smoke in the Dawson area was thick enough to warrant a traveller's advisory on Friday, with a warning that "people with respiratory problems are advised to contact their local health centre."

The smoke did seem more acrid and annoying to the eye and throat, even though there seemed to be less of it. On the other hand, a special national tour group travelling in the RCMP aircraft had no trouble flying in and out of Dawson on Friday.

There are a number of fires in the observation zone that are free-burning, and Collie said columns of smoke will be visible from those for as long as this weather holds. DIAND is flying over these fires daily to check growth and direction.

A fire bulletin released Saturday indicated that some of the smoke Dawson is suffering from is not local; that weather patterns indicated it was drifting in from fires in Alaska. Fire conditions in Dawson were described as extreme.

Fires 11 and 2 made major gains Saturday, as winds gusting up to 70 km/h blew them closer together in Chandinu. Extra support was called for.

At the second of two special meetings on Sunday, the placement of a 100-person fire camp on its way from Prince George, B.C. was discussed. It will probably go in at the old territorial highway compound across from the Dawson City Museum.

Collie said some 60 fighters will move into the area shortly to augment existing forces. Firefighters and municipal leaders will be meeting one to three times daily for the next several days to keep on top of the situation.

The forecast is for a cooling trend and some showers. Officials view this as a chance to make some gains in constructing fire lines and establishing breaks.