Wildland Fire Management crews will conduct prescribed burns in the Whitehorse area over the next two weeks. Burning is expected between Monday, May 11 and Friday, May 22; however, the exact dates and times of these burns will depend on local conditions. Smoke may be visible from areas where crews are working.
Crews plan to start at sites along Long Lake Road on Monday, May 11, then progress to grassy fields near Robert Service Way, the Porter Creek/Whistle Bend roundabout, and Takhini.
Please drive carefully when you see fire crews working. Smoke is not expected to affect highway or other travel, but short delays are possible.
Prescribed burns, which are normally conducted during springtime, use fire under controlled conditions to target the previous winter’s dead, dry grass, and reduce wildfire risk. To protect the community, wildfire crews actively contain the edges of fields being burned and keep a close eye on the weather to ensure that burning only happens within planned conditions. Under these specific weather and safety conditions, prescribed burns minimize public impacts, while also allowing for successful burning. The best burn conditions allow smoke to rise well and grass to burn effectively.
Prescribed fire is one way we reduce future wildfire severity, protect people and our communities, and support the Boreal forest, which relies on disturbances like fire to regulate its long-term health.
Find out more about active prescribed fire operations, as well as Yukon WFM’s other wildfire prevention and mitigation operations, on the Wildfire Hub.
Contact
Mike Fancie
Fire Information Officer, Wildland Fire Management
867-393-7415 or [email protected]