Whitehorse can learn from the Fort McMurray fires, says fire chief

There will be lessons to learn from the forest fire that's devastated Fort McMurray, according to emergency officials in Whitehorse, and they're mindful the city could find itself in a similar situation. 

"The lessons learned from Fort McMurray will be a while in coming," said Whitehorse Fire Chief Kevin Lyslo

"I will definitely be looking, as well as other people within the city, at things we can learn from that event once it all comes to a conclusion. And how we can apply that to our emergency planning here in Whitehorse."

Lyslo said both cities are in wilderness areas, both have a single north-south highway running through them and there are similarities in how they are laid out.

Also like Fort McMurray, Whitehorse has had a dry winter and spring. Lyslo has had discussions with the territorial Wildland Fire branch about the potential risks.

"We've started those conversations already with them and started some cross-training and some preparation for what we're looking at today," he said.

"So an early spring, not a lot of snow on the ground over the winter, expecting drier conditions than normal, earlier this year. We are starting to put plans in play to address that.  As far as how we respond jointly, if it's high or extreme, wildland fire crews automatically deploy with us so they don't wait for a phone call. They're already on the road as my crews are being dispatched to a given location to deal with an incident."

Fire danger high in Whitehorse

The fire danger rating in the Whitehorse area on Friday was high, based mainly on windy conditions in the city, said George Maratos with Wildland Fire.

Weather is an important condition for Yukoners to keep an eye on during a period when forest fires are a possibility, said Michael Templeton, the manager of the Yukon Emergency Measures Organization.

"Be aware of what's going on around you, not just in a general sense, but also on a day to day sense," Templeton said.

All residents should have a plan to deal with a crisis like a forest fire, he said. That includes preparing emergency packs for home, work and vehicles.

Lyslo added citizens play an important role in protecting the city.

"If they can refrain from doing open campfires, open burning within the city limits, that helps us tremendously. If they see something that concerns don't hesitate, call 911. That's our best recourse at this point, outside of all the planning that we've done, just responding to those instances as fast as we can and effectively and efficiently as we can," the fire chief said.