Over the weekend, Whitehorse had an extreme fire danger rating: as of June 10, the rating has been lowered to medium.
The ratings come from Yukon Wildfire Management, who analyze weather conditions across the territory and assign the ratings, said Whitehorse fire chief Travis Whiting.
An extreme fire rating means forest fuels are very dry, and fire risk is very serious, per the Yukon Wildfire Hub. New fires would be able to start easily and spread rapidly.
“The high winds were a large reason for the change in the fire danger rating, given that a fire start in those hefty winds that we had over the weekend, really would be challenging for us to manage,” he said.
While the risk is now medium, it is subject to change day by day, said Whiting.
He said public perception is that fire risk is currently low, given the cool spring temperatures. However, there’s been a lack of rain, he said, so conditions are quite dry.
“We really urge people to be cautious. And in the city of Whitehorse itself, it is illegal to have a fire outside of the permitted backyard campfires,” Whiting said.
Permitted backyard campfires must be supervised at all times, Whiting said. There must always be a supply of water handy to put out the fire if need be, he said.
“Backyard campfires, when done properly, aren't our biggest concern, because it is a controlled environment,” said Whiting, “but any campfires outside of that are illegal, and they pose quite a risk.”
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
