May 7 update: Watson Lake burning has been delayed due to windy weather. Crews will try to complete Watson Lake burning between May 19 and June 19.
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Wildland Fire Management crews will conduct prescribed burns outside of Watson Lake and Haines Junction this week. Burning is expected to take place between Tuesday, May 5 and Sunday, May 10, but the exact dates and times of these burns will depend on local conditions. Smoke may be visible from areas where crews are working.
- In Watson Lake, crews will burn grass in the highway corridors surrounding the town. Smoke is not expected to affect highway travel, but delays of up to 5 minutes are possible. Please drive carefully when you see fire crews working.
- In Haines Junction, crews will burn grass in a field north of the village near the Haines Junction Fire Centre.
Prescribed burns use fire under controlled conditions to reduce wildfire risk. During springtime, these burns target the previous winter’s dead, dry grass. Prescribed burns only take place under specific weather and safety conditions that minimize public impacts while allowing for successful burning. The best prescribed burn conditions ensure that smoke rises well and grass burns effectively. 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.
Prescribed fire is one of several ways we reduce future wildfire severity and protect the community while also supporting the Boreal forest. The forest relies on disturbances like fire to regulate its long-term health, but near communities we can use prescribed fire to protect people and our communities.
Find out about active prescribed fire operations, as well as Yukon Wildland Fire Management’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]