The Yukon government says evacuations are underway as a wildfire threatens a wilderness lodge and cabins on the shores of a lake that’s only accessible by air.
A statement from the territory says the Snag Lake wildfire “displayed extreme behaviour on Sunday” and is visible from the Alaska Highway near the White River in southwestern Yukon.
It says fire officials are on site and four people have been evacuated by helicopter, with more evacuations planned, but the fire isn’t yet posing a risk to the Alaska Highway or buildings along it.
The government had said earlier that it was in contact with the owners of the Kluane Wilderness Lodge on the edge of Wellesley Lake where nine staff and guests were staying, and no one was present at other cabins around the lake.
British Columbia’s wildfire service meanwhile says southern parts of the province are benefiting from rain and cooler weather, a reprieve for the southeast in particular.
But the latest bulletin from the service says there’s a drying trend in the north and unfavourable winds may 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 “wildfires of note,” meaning they are highly visible or pose a threat to public safety or infrastructure, though the BC Wildfire Service says three are classified as “being held” within their current or predetermined perimeters.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2024.
