Wildfire and flood preparedness reminders for April

This news release has been updated to clarify information on burn permits.

Wildfire season officially begins on April 1, bringing burning rules into effect regardless of snow coverage.

In the Yukon, everyone is legally required to get permission to light an open fire between April 1 and September 30. This includes:

• lighting an open fire for any purpose other than a campfire, which does not require a permit;
• burning grass, debris or brush in a burn barrel; and
• burning on all public and private lands.

To get permission, people must call their local Wildland Fire Management base.

Wildfire prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Never leave a fire unattended and keep tools to put it out close by. Put it out by soaking it with water, stirring it with a stick and repeating until the coals are cold.

As fire season begins, the Government of Yukon is providing more information on the Wildfire Hub. This year, the fire danger map will show the current fire restrictions for every part of the Yukon. The Hub will also have more information about wildfire mitigation work, such as fuel breaks. The Wildfire and Flood Hubs can be accessed through www.yukon.ca/emergencies.

As spring approaches, Government of Yukon emergency planners have met with municipal and First Nations governments to update community emergency plans and conduct training exercises together. When there is an above-average snowpack, such as in the Klondike area this year, planners work with the affected communities to ensure response plans are up-to-date. This includes pre-positioning sandbags, sandbag machines and other response materials as needed.

This spring, an emergency preparedness campaign will run in April and May, including radio, print and social media ads leading into Emergency Preparedness Week in May. The campaign will remind Yukoners to prepare for emergencies by creating an emergency plan for their family or household, making an emergency kit with supplies for 72 hours and tips on preparing your property for flooding or wildfires. These resources can be found online at www.preparedyukon.ca.