80 wildfires burn in the Yukon – Smoky conditions creating health risk
By by Adam Voiland
17 July 2013 (NASA) – On July 14, 2013, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of three large wildfires burning in the Yukon territory of western Canada. Red outlines indicate hot spots where MODIS detected unusually warm surface temperatures associated with fire. The image is centered at 136° West longitude and 62.5° North latitude.
17 July 2013 (CBC News) – Smoke is becoming a fact of life for Yukoners as more than 80 forest fires burn around the territory. Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon’s Medical Officer of Health, says breathing smoke can be a serious risk for infants, the elderly or people with heart and lung problems. His advice is to stay indoors, avoid strenuous exercise and keep medication handy. The largest fires in the Yukon are blazing through the forests east of Carmacks. Hanley says planning is underway to help those most vulnerable. In Carmacks, the local nurse has made plans with individuals who are known to have chronic respiratory conditions in the event that symptoms increase or smoke rolls in. Emergency measures planner Richard Cherpak said no communities, including Carmacks, are in immediate danger. “This fire is a known commodity,” he said. “It is a known distance. We have actions to be taken if it does make a run, so there is some time.” Firefighters are urging everyone to be careful to avoid lighting any new fires that could quickly get out of hand. Weather forecasters are calling for continued warm weather and the potential for lightning storms.
Smoky conditions in Yukon come with health risk
By Tiffany Crawford
14 July 2013 VANCOUVER (Vancouver Sun) – The province has sent firefighters to help with fires in Yukon that have scorched more than 1,300 square kilometres this summer. One of the most dangerous areas is near the village of Carmacks where, according to Yukon Wildland Fire Management, 15 fires have burned through more than 110 square kilometres. The danger rating is listed as extreme, the highest rating, which means the fires are spreading extremely fast for extended periods. B.C.’s Forests Ministry said in a statement that crews from the Northwest, Cariboo and Prince George fire centres – which are not needed in B.C. at this time – departed for Carmacks on Saturday. Carmacks is 177 kilometres north of Whitehorse. The request for assistance was made through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, which co-ordinates the sharing of firefighting resources between Canadian jurisdictions. [more]
B.C. firefighter crews dispatched to fight dangerous Yukon wildfires
