Tagish fire destroys mobile home, and home under construction

A fire that started Tuesday in Tagish destroyed a mobile home, and another home that was under construction.

Yukon Wildland Fire Management said Wednesday morning that the fire, which started on a Tagish property then spread to the bush, was under control by late Tuesday evening.

"That means we have established a perimeter that is preventing the fire's spread, and we are currently working today towards extinguishing that fire," said Mike Fancie, the government's fire information officer, on Wednesday morning.

The Carcross/Tagish First Nation said in a Facebook post that the fire started when a couple of residential propane tanks blew up. Another post from the First Nation said two homes were lost in the blaze, but a later post said "no homes burned down, only buildings that were on the property." 

Scott Thompson, who lives not far from Tagish, said the fire started on his elderly friend Marvin Sherman's property and destroyed a house that was under construction there, as well as a mobile home that Sherman lived in.

Thompson was on the fire-ravaged property on Wednesday, sifting through the debris.

"It's pretty devastating. He's lost everything, literally. I mean, he didn't even have his wallet in his pocket. I feel kind of sick," Thompson said. 

"He wanted me to come and find any of his valuables, but I think the picture says it all."

Thompson says Sherman suffered a burn on his back and was hospitalized overnight, but is mostly fine.  

Yukon fire officials said the fire spread from a structure to some dry grass nearby, and burned about five hectares before it was brought under control at about 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

Fancie said about 30 wildland firefighters and local volunteer firefighters were involved in fighting the blaze.

Thompson said he was impressed by the response.

"Yeah, I think they hopped on her pretty quick. But they had people phoning in, and getting pretty excited." 

He said it's very dry in the area right now, and he hopes people understand the risk.

"You don't want to be burning when there's any dry grass. It's terrible."