Big question for most local residents was why bombs were demolished in tinder-dry woods instead of an island or some other relatively safe place. Commented one RCAF spokesman, "The site for demolition of the obsolete bombs was one of several that were considered. It was selected for two reasons. It was accessible by road for transportation of the bombs and it is not in an area where the explosions would cause any inconvenience to the public. Before the area was used for demolition, the required authorities were consulted and all normal precautions were taken for the demolition of explosives."
The Minister of National Defence has commenced enquiries concerning the bomb disposal, it was lesrned this week from an authoritative source.
Bad 48 hours
Local residents worried through a hectic 48 hours this week when a forest fire across the river seemed to be heading for the new townsite. About noon Monday the blaze broke out five aniles north of town on the west side of the river, apparently started by careless campers or fishermen. Late in the afternoon the fire jumped the Yukon, fanned by a strong north wind.
By seven o'clock townspeople were urxiously eyeing the billowing clouds of smoke. A few hours later, the panic button was pushed and orders were given to have six buses and six trucks standing by in Riverdale to evacuate residents.
While most Whitehorse residents chewed their nails and listened to CFWH for hourly fire reports, across the river heavy equipment ploughed along winding roads and bulldozers crashed through trees to make a fire break. Under supervision of forestry engineer George Wilson, about 30 men were fighting the blaze at 10 o'clock Monday night, By midnight the situation appeared a little better, with firelines holding and not much wind to fan the fire.
Tuesday the report from Yukon Forestry was hopeful. A good turnout of volunteers and the early arrival of heavy equipment had beaten the fire. Then early wednesday rain started. Later in the day, 17 Works Company CO Major W.W. Osborn took an army truck on a barge downriver to pump water on both banks, which helped immensely in stamping out any lingering hot spots in the fire.
Wednesday noon, just 48 hours after it started, the fire was reported well under control, with mopping up operations going on. Today Yukon Forestry officials said all danger was past as long as cloudy weather continues.
They commented the fire was brought under control so quickly through the efforts of volunteer workers from the Army and town, combined with equipment sent by construction firms and the territorial government.
Names of all fire fighters were not available, however the cat skinners included Curly Graham, Art Smith, Ken Megahy, George Cooper, W. Gluchi, S. Stout, H. Huggard, Bill Braga, B. Saminoff, C. Yuellett, H. Morris, E. Bear, V. Hansen, Bill Kochane, Gordon Flett and Curley Saunders.
It looks worse
From up there
By Helen Bogart
If you think forest fires look bad on the ground, you should see them from the air. They look a thousand times worse.
Monday when the fire started across the river, I had a chance to fly over it and then take a closer look at the big one on the Mayo road. It was just awful. About seven o'clock the smoke was pouring out over Riverdale with ugly red spurts of flame showing up starkly against the green timber.
Seen from 2,000 feet, the colors were vivid. The Yukon was deep green against chalky white cliffs and the billowing clouds of smoke seemed etched on the deep blue of the sky.
The fire was heading southeast then, straight for the new townsite. That was frightening enough but it was worse when I looked north. Where Lake Laberge should have been visible there was nothing but a great, angry-looking pall of smoke. I imagined what was going on under that smoke cloud. Men battling the fire, poor little squirrels and gophers trying to escape the heat, maybe one or two horses galloping in terror somewhere, a man and his family wondering if their home for twenty years was going to be destroyed.
Half an hour after take-off, we touched down again. At the hangar everything was quiet and peaceful. What a contrast with the scene below us only a few minutes before.
