Residents in Keno City and Elsa are preparing for a potential evacuation after an alert was issued last Saturday due to the Shanghai Creek wildfire.

According to Yukon Wildland Fire Management’s website, the blaze has grown to 6,425 ha.

The evacuation alert covers kilometres 83 to 111 of the Silver Trail Highway. This includes Elsa, Keno and the Hansen Lakes area.

Leo Martel, of the Keno City Hotel, spoke with the Star this morning about the alert and the conditions on the ground in the area.

He said he is not sure what is going on with the alert, but stated that everyone is concerned about the tiny community’s welfare. He looked in the nearby valley to check on the fire.

He pointed out that the fire management efforts are centred on not allowing the fire to come down into the valley. That would depend on the wind.

He said the wind has picked up, and the community is blanketed in thick smoke.

“You can smell it in the building,” Martel said.

He said longtime resident Mike Mancini, the owner of the nearby snack bar, has a water protection truck that’s ready to be used. The truck was filled with water. The plan is to put a sprinkler on it and leave it behind should Keno be evacuated.

He explained Yukon government staff have visited and decided what buildings to save if the worst scenario ensues.

As far as he knows, it’s the centre core and includes the mining museum, businesses, the church/library building and his hotel.

The structures would be saved by putting sprinklers on them, he explained.

As far as the evacuation alert, he said people are ready. He pointed out that there is nothing indicating that an evacuation is imminent.

He said there was no information given to people on what to pack for the evacuation.

Martel added he is happy with the efforts to contain the threat.

“I think they (fire crews) are doing a good job,” Martel said.

He said the fire is unpredictable. Although it cannot be seen from Keno, it could come up fast under the right conditions.

“It’s a wait-and-see attitude,” Martel said.

It was clear earlier this morning, but smoke quickly blew into town. It’s so thick that people are just staying indoors.

He closed his windows due to the smell, and has not felt any negative effects due to the smoke.

Martel frequently checks the valley to see what’s going on, travelling toward Elsa to make his observations. He last checked it last night.

He said the valley got rain but not in Keno.

Wildland estimated that Keno has about 24 residents and Elsa only has a few buildings remaining. It is now mostly a historic site. The Keno population estimate is from the 2016 census.

Maxim Naylor, this week’s Yukon Wildland Fire Management spokesman, was unavailable for comment on the situation before press time this afternoon.