FIRE!

from What's Up Yukon June 14, 2023

PET CULTURE

With the situation in Alberta this year, and remembering Fort McMurray, we are continuously reminded that we, too, live in the boreal forest. Having wilderness (the boreal forest) all around us is one of the attractions that both draws us to Whitehorse and keeps us here. Seniors, who used to retire south, increasingly decide to spend their ﬁnal years here or even move here to be closer to family, children and grandchildren.

We have been receiving information about ﬁre risk and its management in our mailboxes, in newspapers, on the radio, through special presentations and by word of mouth. Recently, there was a presentation by the foremost wildﬁre expert in Canada, Alan Westhaver. This is available on YouTube at youtu.be/E53jKctx3Vs around Whitehorse.

How many of us have taken this seriously and made our 72-hour emergency kits? How many of us have a plan for where to go and what to do in case of the need to evacuate? With one road south and one road north, it could be quite difﬁcult to leave the city safely! I can just picture the trafﬁc jams of RVs, cars and trucks that are likely on the Alaska Highway. My husband and I live on the edge of Copper Ridge and have even considered the possibility that we might have to load up our backpacks and head across the Arkell Wetlands. (Sounds like fun! Maybe?) And with the nearest towns a long distance away and very small, with limited resources, there could be problems.

All of this may be OK for healthy, mobile folks and those who have

Knowing your neighbours and being ready to help them is something everyone can do

It seems that some of the wildfires of today are hotter, faster moving, harder to put out and more deadly, due to some of the effects of climate change. All of the experts say “when” rather than “if” regarding a possible wildfire in and suitable vehicles and are able to drive. There are people who do not drive and/or do not have a vehicle. They could be picked up by family or friends, but that may be difficult or impossible if people are trying to go somewhere and in different directions at the same time. Remember September 2011? Some folks are reluctant to drive at night or in busy traffic. And fuel is expensive at present. Does everyone have the means to keep their fuel tanks topped up? The 72-hour emergency kit is another way to be prepared. The Canadian government’s getprepared.gc.ca/index-en.aspx website has a useful list of the things needed. Some of the items are expensive, though. Check out the prices of freeze-dried food, windup radios, items for first aid kits, flashlights and batteries, etc. One also needs a camping stove to utilize some of these long-life, lightweight foods. The water supplies needed are heavy, and carrying them may be beyond the capability of a frail person.

Communication about what to do and where to go is another issue. Many seniors are computer and mobile-phone savvy—but not all. Some of us are not great fans of social media, as our source of information, and not in the habit of checking email often.

We hear a lot about fire-smarting these days. The city and territory have been busy creating firebreaks around the city, as well as thinning the green spaces. And what about our homes? Evidence from Fort McMurray and other fires has shown that creating a noncombustible border of 10 metres around our homes can make the difference between a house that burns and one that does not. Piles of dead leaves, gutters full of pine needles, and firewood stacked close to the house are just some of the hazards to our houses. Some measures that make our homes less burnable are easy, but some are both heavy work and expensive. We have been trying to get someone to help with making a gravel border around our house, but it seems difficult to find workers. The Yukon Council On Aging has a program for yard maintenance, for seniors who can’t do this themselves. Check out their website for details on accessing this: (ycoayukon.com).

These challenges also apply to persons with disabilities and to those who are living on lower incomes or are without homes and vehicles, as well as individuals in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

This all sounds very negative and frightening, but one of the ways to alleviate anxiety and fear is to learn as much as possible about these issues and to do what you can to be ready.

Community is important. Knowing your neighbours and being ready to help them is something everyone can do—perhaps even forming neighbourhood groups who would check on each other and share resources. We can also ask the City about an evacuation plan and even have a trial run, so we know exactly what to do when the time comes.