Forest fires are hitting the Yukon hard this year

By RICHARD MOSTYN – Yukon News Reporter

Hot, dry conditions, high winds and lightning storms are making 1989 the worst year for forest fires since 1982.

Already these forces, with some contributions form careless campers, have combined to start 134 fires in the Yukon – almost twice the number there were this time last year.

The total is closing in on 1982’s total of 217 – one of the worst years in recent memory. And there are six weeks remaining in this year’s fire season.

Currently there are 49 fires burning and the hot, stormy conditions that started most of the fires shows no sign of ending.

That, combined with the possiblity of higher winds this weekend, has the territory’s head of fire management concerned.

"We’re certainly very concerned about the next few days," said Keith Kepke in an interview Thursday. "Previous to this, the winds have been very calm and fire action has been less dramatic.

"But today we have winds forecast for 30 kilometres (per hour) and that in combination with low relative humidity can make for an extremely explosive situation with fires. It’s definitely the last thing we need."

Kepke describes the situation in the territory as "critical from Dawson to Watson and Whitehorse to Ross River."

Fires are burning near many of the major population centres in the territory including Dawson City, Carmacks, Whitehorse, Watson Lake and Ross River but none pose a danger to the towns at the moment.

The areas around Dawson City and Carmacks are the hardest hit by fires. There are seven fires burning in the vicinity of Dawson City and the local RCMP report smoke was drifting though the town on Wednesday. In Carmacks, eight fires have been reported.

Kepke says the southwest may get a little relief with cooler temperatures but the central region is going to remain hot and dry until Monday, keeping the fire warnings at critical.