Map of the Parker Lake wildfire currently threatening Fort Nelson, BC / Courtesy: BC Wildfire Service
WHITEHORSE, YT – Wildfire activity in Northern BC and the Northwest Territories has disrupted internet connection, phonelines, cell networks and the 9-1-1 service across the Yukon, North West Territories, and parts of Northern BC. At this time there is no timeline for the full restoration of these services, however incremental improvements have been made over the past 24 hours.
Technicians from NorthwesTel are currently working to restore a critical fiber line that was burned through by wildfire activity near Fort Nelson, BC, but had been forced to withdraw from the site late this afternoon due to a wind shift moving the fire front back towards the worksite. NorthwesTel representatives say work crews have about 1 to 2 hours of work left at the site to repair the fiber line, but will not be able to complete the work until local conditions improve and work crews can safely return to the site.
NorthwesTel technicians are also standing by for safe access at a separate fire damaged site serving the Mackenzie Valley and Beaufort Delta regions, but do not yet have an estimated time of reconnection for this region.
Highway access to the Yukon has been impacted as well, with the Alaska Highway, and Highway 77 to Fort Liard both closed due to wildfire activity near Fort Nelson, BC. The Robert Campbell Highway is also closed north of Watson Lake at Kilometer 40 due to flooding from a beaver dam release. The Stewart-Cassiar Highway remains open.
NorthweTel has restore cable internet service to most areas of Whitehorse, though the company warns customers should expect slower speeds than usual. The Yukon Emergency Measures Organization has also confirmed some landlines and cell networks have also been restored across the Yukon, and the 9-1-1 service is functioning in some areas intermittently.
Yukon EMO says if you need emergency help, attempt to call 9-1-1 first, however if you can’t get through seek out emergency services at the source. For those outside Whitehorse, emergency healthcare is accessible by using the phone on the outside of your community health center, and the doors are open at the local RCMP detachments. For those in Old Crow those needing emergency medical services should knock on the nursing station’s front door.
Within the City of Whitehorse, emergency vehicles and first responders have been posted at the following locations:
Canada Games Centre
Kwanlin Mall/Independent
The Gas station in Porter Creek at the intersection of Wann Rd & Alaska Hwy.
The Whistle Bend roundabout
The Rest stop at the top of South Access/Robert Service Way
Emergency services are also available via:
The Yukon Inn front desk
Security guards at Superstore, Cornerstone building at 7th and Main
Sirius Security patrol vehicles from 6pm to 6am
Police services are available at the Whitehorse RCMP detachment on 4th Avenue, and Fire Rescue is available through the Whitehorse Fire Halls, downtown at 105 Black Street, and at the top of Two Mile Hill. Bylaw Services will also be conducting increased patrols around the City, and the main entrance and receptions areas of their office at 305 Range Road will be staffed from 8:30am-4:30pm.
Yukon EMO has urged the public to share any available information with your friends, family, and neighbours. They also ask that you check in on those you think may need help, and check with your employers to confirm if your company or agency is involved in outage mitigation efforts.
Yukon EMO has committed to provide more updates at noon, and 5pm daily until the communication outage has been resolved.
