Yukon extends season for wildfire crews amid warm, dry weather
Wildland firefighters typically on contract until end of August, now staying on for at least another week
Yukon is keeping some of its wildfire crews on contract for at least another week, as parts of the territory deal with a late-summer heat wave and possible strong winds.
Wildland firefighters in the territory are typically on contract until the end of August. In a news release on Thursday, the government says some crew members will stay on until at least Sept. 12, “depending on the weather.”
“Even as the colours change, fuels in the forest remain dry,” the release reads.
Two helicopters will also be on contract for at least another week in case they are needed, the government says.
Some parts of the territory have seen unusually warm weather over the past week. Whitehorse has seen a prolonged stretch of sunshine and daytime highs in the mid to high 20s and the fire danger rating was considered “high” or “extreme” in many areas around Whitehorse and the southwest Yukon on Thursday.
On Thursday, two crews and one helicopter responded to a new half-hectare fire near Marsh Lake, south of Whitehorse. By mid-afternoon, emergency officials reported that the fire was being held.
Officials say there have been four newly-reported fires in the territory over the last week, all of them human-caused.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were 90 active wildfires in the territory, with seven of them receiving a full response.
Prescribed burns are also planned in the coming days for the Watson Lake and Upper Liard area.
“Although conditions in the region are currently hot and dry, the Tintina region does not have active fires, meaning enough resources are available to complete prescribed burning. Resources will still be assigned to respond to any new fires,” fire officials said in a statement on Wednesday.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: N.W.T. requests help from elsewhere to battle wildfires, CBC News
Finland: Wildfires continue to burn across Lapland, Yle News
Norway: Smoke from Canadian wildfires forecast to reach Norway, The Associated Press
Russia: New NOAA report finds vast Siberian wildfires linked to Arctic warming, The Associated Press
Sweden: High risk of wildfires in many parts of Sweden, including North, Radio Sweden
United States: Wildfires in Anchorage? Climate change sparks disaster fears, The Associated Press
