Brian Dack says wildfires have come close to the Kluane Wilderness Lodge in southwestern Yukon before, but none have been so large and fast-moving as the blaze thatB次元官网网址檚 currently threatening his business of more than two decades.
The fishing lodge on the shores of Wellesley Lake is accessible only by flying in, and itB次元官网网址檚 now the site of helicopter evacuations as the fire bears down on the lodge and its cabins after gusty winds whipped up the flames and smoke on Sunday.
The Yukon government said Monday that three cabins were destroyed after SundayB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渆xtreme fire behaviour,B次元官网网址� but cooler tempertature and humidity tamed the blaze and B次元官网网址渋t has not moved significantly since last night.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗owever, it is still creating a lot of smoke.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t was absolutely incredible. IB次元官网网址檝e never seen nothing like it before,B次元官网网址� Dack said in an interview on Monday. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 burnt all the way down the lake on the west side and itB次元官网网址檚 about halfway down the lake on the east side.B次元官网网址�
Dack said winds were gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour.
B次元官网网址淗opefully itB次元官网网址檒l blow at the right direction, but right now itB次元官网网址檚 not,B次元官网网址� he said.
Still, Dack said heB次元官网网址檚 staying put with some staff at the lodge for now as wildfire crews set up structural protection sprinklers.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l set up more sprinklers around here and hope for the best,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut right now thereB次元官网网址檚 not much we can do.B次元官网网址�
Dack said there would be a loss of revenue for the lodge for the rest of the summer due to the wildfire.
The out-of-control blaze was first reported in June and had grown to span more than 20 square kilometres as of Monday.
The Yukon governmentB次元官网网址檚 wildfire information website said the Snag Lake fire displayed B次元官网网址渆xtreme behaviourB次元官网网址� in hot and dry conditions the day before.
It said fire officials were at the site and four people had been evacuated by helicopter, with further evacuations planned.
Dack said the those who left the lodge were a family from Northern California who were B次元官网网址渧ery understandingB次元官网网址� about the evacuation.
B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檙e kind of used to smoke,B次元官网网址� Dack said, adding the family told him they would return to the lodge next year.
Dack said the heat in the region has been B次元官网网址渦nbearableB次元官网网址� at times this summer, and heB次元官网网址檚 noticed dry conditions on his forest walks.
B次元官网网址淭he moss, it just scrunches when you walk on it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 mean, our hottest day here this year was 42 degrees, which is just unheard of for the North.B次元官网网址�
Dack said he can only hope that the area will see enough snow over the winter to snuff out the wildfire completely.
B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 just been so hot and dry and hardly any rain throughout the summer,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l just have to wait and see.B次元官网网址�
The Snag Lake wildfire is burning about 15 kilometres east of the Snag Junction area along the Alaska Highway. Smoke from the fire is visible, but the highway and buildings along the route are not currently at risk, the government website said.
British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 wildfire service, meanwhile, said areas in the south were benefiting from rain and cooler weather, a reprieve for the southeast in particular.
But a bulletin from the service on Monday said thereB次元官网网址檚 a drying trend in the north and unfavourable winds could fan increased fire behaviour, especially in the northwest.
About 370 wildfires are active across B.C., with 34 per cent burning out of control, down from about 40 per cent in recent days.
Five blazes are considered B次元官网网址渨ildfires of note,B次元官网网址� meaning they are highly visible or pose a threat to public safety or infrastructure, though the BC Wildfire Service said three are classified as B次元官网网址渂eing heldB次元官网网址� within their current or predetermined perimeters.
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