Many residents of South Whitehorse particularly from Pine Ridge, Spruce Hill, Wolf Creek and Mary Lake subdivisions have expressed concerns about campfires in the Wolf Creek Campground and the risk of a wildfire starting in the large mature spruce trees in the campground and along Wolf Creek. Several times last summer during warm, dry conditions, unnecessarily large campfires were observed near the trees. An abundance of firewood for campers and lack of education about wildfire risks makes the area high risk for a wildfire.
The Wildfire Awareness Society (WAS) wrote to Wildland Fire Management in November 2023 outlining concerns and offering suggestions to address them. The City of Whitehorse and southern Whitehorse neighborhood associations were cc-ed on the letter. Specifically, WAS proposed that: 1. there be increased presence of a park attendant to oversee campfire activity in the campground and educate campground users about appropriate campfire use/protocol; 2. fire risk signs/bulletin boards be installed at the park entrance and at the trailheads of Wolf Creek trails; and 3. the current Wildfire Risk Ratings and Campfire Bans be posted on the large digital overhead signs that have been constructed over the Alaska Highway at the south and north ends of Whitehorse.
We are happy to report that some of our concerns are/will be addressed.
Some additional FireSmarting of the campground has already been conducted;
Plans are being developed by Wildland Fire Management and/or Yukon Parks to: undertake robust public outreach campaigns to educate the public on wildland fire prevention; to provide guidance on firewood usage and campfire size; and, to inform the public of fire danger ratings and fire bans;
Since the Wolf Creek Campground will be part of the new campground reservation pilot program this year, it is expected that a Visitor Service Operator will be contracted to oversee the campsite bookings for this campground. This may provide a valuable educational opportunity to communicate with campground users. NOTE: If you know of someone who might be interested in such a contract opportunity, go to: Bids and Tenders - Yukon and look up “Visitor Service Operators”.
Park Officers will be visiting the Wolf Creek Campground regularly. If you witness a large fire that is a risk, please contact a Yukon Park Officer.
The use of the digital overhead highway signs at the north and south ends of Whitehorse is being investigated.
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