Persistent lightning and thunderstorms spark an increase in fires in the Yukon

WHITEHORSE, YUKON – The Yukon government says sustained storms over the past two weeks have caused an increase in lightning-started wildfires, leading to poor air quality and fire evacuation alerts.

The territory’s wildfire management agency says in a statement that the Yukon responded to a number of new lightning-started fires over the weekend, with 86 new fires reported since the storms began developing on June 19.

The territory says there are 78 active fires in the Yukon, and all but two are in the Dawson and Mayo fire districts.

The statement said crews were able to contain a number of fires burning close to communities such as Dawson, Mayo, Carmacks and Watson Lake, and evacuation alerts remain in effect for parts of central Yukon, including Mayo and Stewart Crossing.

The 320-hectare Roaring Fork fire continues to burn out of control about 15 kilometers north of Mayo, while the 17,000-hectare Wrong Lake fire is burning between Stewart Crossing and Pelly Crossing, Yukon.

Meanwhile, Environment Canada has lifted an air quality advisory for residents of central Yukon, where wildfire smoke has settled over the region and posed potential health risks.

The Met Office earlier said the affected region included Mayo and Carmacks and the poor air quality was the result of widespread bushfire smoke in the region, along with a stagnant weather pattern in the area.

Officials warned residents that fine particles in the air will put people with existing conditions, the elderly, pregnant women and children at particularly high risk.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 2, 2024.

The Canadian Press