Government's commitment to fire towers questioned
The NDP is asking questions about the government's fire management programs as the territory prepares for another wildfire season.
The NDP is asking questions about the government's fire management programs as the territory prepares for another wildfire season.
On Monday, Kevin Barr, the party's Community Services critic, asked why the Tagish fire tower is only staffed during the week and not on weekends unless the risk is extreme.
"The Tagish fire lookout provides a valuable spotting service to Tagish's volunteer fire department and the Wildland fire crews,” said Barr, accusing the government of "penny-pinching on the backs of Yukoners' safety.”
Community Services Minister Brad Cathers said that some of the changes implemented by Wildland Fire Management result from improvements in communications and fire detection technology.
Those technological improvements have meant staffing at some towers has been reduced except when the fire risk is high.
Barr said the Tagish fire chief had written to the minister asking for the staffing at the lookout tower to be strengthened, but Cathers said he had not seen it if one had been sent.
"Last year, in response to one of our highest fire seasons, we had very significant expenditures in this area,” said Cathers.
"We will continue to respond to all areas of need within the Wildland Fire Management area and continue to work with staff in determining the most effective way of utilizing our dollars,” he said.
The current fire identification system includes lookout towers, satellite monitoring and fixed-wing aircraft monitoring, Cathers noted.
This season, six of the territory's nine fire towers are staffed regardless of fire risk on a five-days-on, two-days-off basis, said George Maratos, the fire information officer for Wildland Fire Management.
The Ferry Hill tower in the Mayo-Stewart Crossing area, the Dome tower in Dawson City, the Carmacks tower, the Tom Creek tower in Watson Lake, the Tagish tower in Southern Lakes and the Haeckel Hill tower in Whitehorse will be staffed seven days a week when the fire danger is moderate high or extreme.
The three remaining towers, the Transport tower in Watson Lake, the Ptarmigan tower in Carmacks, and the Paint Mountain tower in Haines Junction, will only be staffed when the fire danger is high or extreme.
Last year, the government spent an estimated $22.9 million on fire management, and has budgeted $15 million for this year.
Comments (2)
Up 8 Down 2
Max Mack on May 7, 2014 at 10:27 am
Periodic staffing of towers will not work. Who is going to make themselves available for the entire summer for the chance of only working for perhaps a couple of weeks in a tower? This work requires specialized training, dedication and the ability to endure long periods of monotony and isolation. Good luck finding those skills/attributes on a whim.
Yukon Forest Management easily spends millions on air patrols and satellite detection technologies, while cheaping out on maintaining properly staffed fire towers. An over-reliance on high profile and expensive gadgetry is sure to result in fires that are caught too late to contain.
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Brian W. Hemsley on May 7, 2014 at 8:05 am
Thought that the tower on Mt Ross had been removed, but it can still be seen out my front window. Wonder why it isn't mentioned, as it is the most north/east tower.