Once again, extreme wildfire conditions are prompting Wildland Fire Management to place an outright ban on open flames.
The Yukon is hot and dry, and forecasts show that it will only get hotter and drier, said fire information officer George Maratos.
Conditions are “tinder dry,” said Wildland Fire Management duty officer Mike Sparks.
No campfires, no garbage burning and no fireworks.
The only time a flame will be permitted outside is if it is contained within a small barbecue or cookstove.
Even then, “These utensils should be used with extreme caution,” said Maratos.
So far, 25 Yukon wildfires have been confirmed as human-caused.
Many have resulted from poorly extinguished campfires, and at least one was caused by an abandoned car being burnt.
“We can’t really put a ban on people lighting cars on fire; we just have to hope that people won’t do that,” said Maratos.
Campfire scofflaws could be subject to a fine under the Forest Protection Act.
If your illegally set campfire causes a wildfire, on the other hand, costs could be a bit steeper.
“The accused may also be liable for the suppression costs,” said an official Wildland Fire Management release.
Sixty-five kilometres east of Carmacks, 50 firefighters and three helicopters continue to do battle with a 15,000-hectare fire (one-third the size of Whitehorse city limits).
The fire may cause delays or closures on the Robert Campbell Highway.
Forest fires have burned 83,649 hectares of Yukon forest in 2009, an area equal to eight Herschel Islands. (Tristin Hopper)