Photo by Whitehorse Star
David Loeks
City ‘sitting at the edge of a blowtorch’
FireSmart Whitehorse is asking the City of Whitehorse to set aside as much money as it can to work toward foiling major forest fires from sweeping through the region.
FireSmart Whitehorse is asking the City of Whitehorse to set aside as much money as it can to work toward foiling major forest fires from sweeping through the region.
The group is made up of those who work in firefighting, as well as others concerned about the situation.
David Loeks is part of the organization, and made the request to council in a presentation at its meeting Monday.
Loeks pointed to the impacts of devastating wildfires on Fort McMurray, Alta. and Paradise, Calif. in noting Whitehorse could face a similar fate.
“Whitehorse is sitting at the edge of a blowtorch,” he said.
The city isn’t at any less risk than the other communities that have been ravaged by fire in recent years, he added.
Whitehorse, he pointed out, has significant old growth forests that are more prone to fires.
Adding to the risk for residents is there’s just one road in and out of the city in each direction, he pointed out.
As well, the Robert Campbell Bridge, which connects the downtown area to Riverdale (which has five schools along with numerous daycare centres) is a “choking point” for traffic in the city.
Loeks argued there’s a lot that could be done to address and reduce the fire risk to the city, with FireSmart Whitehorse working toward a strategy on that.
Such a strategy could look at the possibility of a biomass industry that could end up helping to pay for efforts on fuel abatement.
Essentially, Loeks explained when questioned by Coun. Steve Roddick, the heat sold through the biomass efforts would help pay for fuel-abatement efforts.
“It’s kind of a two-for,” he said.
Part of the strategy will also deal with reaching out to stakeholders.
The proposed capital budget put forward by the city would see a total of $700,000 spent on FireSmart efforts over the next four years.
Mayor Dan Curtis said he recognized the importance of taking precautionary measures, and mentioned the importance of the territorial and federal governments in sharing the considerable costs of such measures as firebreaks.
During the height of the Haeckel Hill wildfire in June 1991, Whitehorse came very close to a full-scale evacuation.
A change in the wind direction was credited with saving the city from substantial damage from that blaze.
Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (12)
Up 4 Down 1
Josey Wales on Nov 26, 2018 at 10:55 pm
For one mere example of absolute MALFEASANCE, huge pile of brush added to each year at Robert Service ball diamonds by special interest SBY.
CoW has a few records of my queries into this hazardous entitlement, so too does the big cheese at SBY...and for years...do they care?
Clearly not as no response from either party, still a nice pile waiting to go...riiiiight on the edge of our airport and core.
THAT is but one of my examples, certain others have similar ones.
Our elected windbags AND their appointed minions have a clear history of dismissing the concerns of our citizens and framing the authors of said concerns...in a narrative that shields them from a spore of responsibility.
Seems they are very comfortable vilifying folks, critical of their absolute disdain they hold for us, their clear incompetence and highly visible arrogance....yes they have records, as do I of it all.
So in the context of just how much concern so so many claim to have for our city...after it gets burned to ashes?
At least 20% of the folks whom bothered to vote recently, well they will miss the tangible town that was.
As so so many things we cannot see that make a community have already been razed.
By waves of political blowholes, their minions and the attitudes that truly like bacteria....breed this malfeasance and engineered lunacy.
Up 9 Down 1
Rural Resident on Nov 25, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Do we need a high pressure water system along portions of the fire break mentioned in this article. Perhaps it's a good idea?
As a resident in the southern area of town, where should we evacuate to? There seems to be not a lot of information available and there would likely be pandemonium if a fire gets going with a strong southern wind.
Regardless of how a wildfire may start it's concerning to know how quickly they can spread and how devastating they can be. I hope the discussion can take place in a public forum so all residents and groups can contribute in a positive way to a concerns that are very tangible,
To date, it seems people are encouraged to deal with fuel near their properties but there have been no meetings I am aware of or plans distributed to let us know what to do. This I think support what FireSmart Whitehorse is proposing.
Up 11 Down 4
Pay attention to others on Nov 23, 2018 at 1:56 pm
... Don't forget you have an entire private sector that can help with fire.
The problem with most of these assessments + projects is you'll spend a huge amount of money for something that MAY never happen.
Then when a fire does start you'll need to mobilize a force capable of dealing with it.
Look at the number of private contractors that brought their equipment in to help with the dump fire. Organized by the City they were able to procure large amounts of equipment in a short amount of time. A natural disaster in Whitehorse effects everyone yet you're only training a small percentage to help.
When things actually happen ... it never goes as planned. But good luck predicting acts of god.
Up 28 Down 4
Eliminate idiots on Nov 23, 2018 at 9:20 am
It's too bad natural selection can't get rid of the idiots who throw cigarette butts out their car windows or idiots who start a fire in an extremely dry forest and don't properly extinguish their fires.
Up 21 Down 6
In the industry on Nov 23, 2018 at 7:02 am
Your ignorance is laughable. “Water supply is not in any plan”. Hate to break it to you but water supply has been in plans for decades. You may not see it as they’re on all of our maps. Not to mention in the city, there are those little yellow things called “fire hydrants”. They’re a visual representation of how important water supply is. As for non-hydrant areas, there’s locations our “in the industry “ people go to access water that has been mapped out, planned, and checked yearly.
You truly have no idea what you are talking about, and just mimic those who think the people fighting the fires (from fort Mac- to California) don’t learn anything or pass it on to their industry. And we’re just desperate to find a Facebook warrior to show us the way. Wildland management in the territory is a world class organization that has been involved in fighting large fires the likes Yukon and any Yukoner has ever seen. They work fantastically with WHFD and are better suited to address the city/territory on preparations needed, and are doing so.
Up 17 Down 14
Jonah Whale on Nov 22, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Those comments are inappropriate "in the industry".
There is real and apparent danger for thousands of people in the Whitehorse area. If a fire gets going the in the industry folks will be ineffective and the focus then will be more effective measures for the future. David is providing a message that the industry people are perhaps uncomfortable with.
Fire smarting should be 200 plus metres wide not 50 and there should be consideration for evacuation plans and muster locations. Basic things like water supply are not in any plan.
A fire that gets going will cause incredible property value and perhaps the loss of many lives. David and his group are on the right path.
Up 21 Down 11
north_of_60 on Nov 22, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Loeks pointed to the impacts of devastating wildfires on Fort McMurray ...in noting Whitehorse could face a similar fate.
The FtMac fire was set on purpose and rapidly got out of control because an incompetent government cancelled the water bomber contracts two weeks before. Does Mr. Loeks have any clue what he's going on about?
Up 12 Down 8
Darrell Drugstore's smartest neighbour on Nov 22, 2018 at 9:51 am
ZOUNDS - the dog that never stops barking is back.
HEY - Wilf Carter - you should run for the Maxime Bernier Party in the
next Federal Election
Up 24 Down 5
In the industry on Nov 21, 2018 at 5:20 pm
I’d really like to see who is in this “group”. Being in the industry, I know our wildland management and city fire management have been working on this program actively. David Loeks is not presenting any new information or new solutions, but muddying the water for those who are actively working to reduce fuel around the city. Know that the fuel load has been high for decades and the fact it hasn’t gone up is a testament to the crews of wildland fire and city fire in stopping them before they get big.
Your speech has been pressed to council members for years, you’re just repeating what they already said and repackaging it like it’s new. Please let the actual professionals do their job Mr. Loeks. It seems you enjoy the limelight a little too much, and it seems you’re trying to hijack a disaster in California for your own ego.
Up 23 Down 14
OMG Wilf! on Nov 21, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Good luck in the next election! You'll get it next time. If at first you don't succeed, try again.
And if you don't succeed that time.
Try again.
And if you don't succeed that time...
Maybe you're not cut out for success. But after designing GM from scratch and restructuring Microsoft there isn't much you cannot not do!
Up 22 Down 15
Uh on Nov 21, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Housing, downtown parking, infrastructure, second access to Riverdale, access for Whistlebend.
If you give money to every cause; we're going to have none (oh wait).
Could we just stick to the matters that have been on hand since we got Rawdicked in the last two elections?
Up 24 Down 18
Wilf Carter on Nov 21, 2018 at 3:40 pm
These people are right. It is an issue of safety first and foremost. We are more than a blow torch but high level danger zone. Our mayor better start raking like the Fins according to Trump.