Government of Yukon shares updated wildfire outlook

The Government of Yukon provided an update on the wildfire weather outlook at a briefing on June 13. In summary:

For the past month, the Yukon has had mixed weather. Conditions are dry through central Yukon (from Destruction Bay through Carmacks, Faro and Ross River). The rest of the territory, in the north and the south, is not very dry due to last fall’s rain and winter snowpack. This means the wildfires so far this year are not burning as deeply or intensely as last year’s wildfires.

This past weekend and continuing through midweek, warmer dry conditions will escalate fire danger across the territory. Fire danger can be expected to rise gradually through the week, with more lightning-started wildfires. This is normal for June.

Although it is not possible to control where lightning-caused fires may start, it is possible to predict when they might happen. When there is lightning in the forecast and dry forest conditions, Wildland Fire Management maintains a high level of preparedness to protect people from potentially destructive wildfires.

To predict wildfire outlook, Wildland Fire Management looks at the weather forecast and the dryness of forest fuels, such as fallen trees, woody debris and grasses. Looking ahead to later June and the months of July and August, predictions get less certain.

Wildland Fire Management expects the summer to be relatively normal into at least mid-July, with no major causes for concern. This is different from the past few summers when very hot, dry weather and very dry forests caused extreme wildfire conditions.

However, wildfire danger can change quickly. The Government of Yukon will continue sharing wildfire information throughout the summer as conditions change.

This summer the Yukon has 24 wildfire crews in regional bases across the territory, comprising 10 Government of Yukon and 14 Yukon First Nations crews. That means 75 initial-attack firefighters and another 40 staff managing crews and aircraft and providing logistical support. Two airtanker groups and additional helicopters arecontracted to support ground crews as needed.

Provinces and territories share firefighting resources within Canada through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre mutual aid resource sharing agreement. Internationally, the Yukon shares firefighting resources within the Northwest Compact, which includes the Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Alaska, Washington, Montana, Idaho and Oregon. No firefighters are currently deployed out of territory.

The Government of Yukon encourages Yukoners to be cautious while using fire outdoors, and to reduce wildfire risk at home by applying FireSmart principles to their properties. Yukoners should also be prepared for any emergencies by making an emergency plan and a 72-hour emergency kit. Learn more at www.PreparedYukon.ca.