Forest fire, snow, and a new shed

Forest Fire

The weekend was so hot, dry, and windy. On Sunday night, we heard a lightning strike had started a forest fire south of town. With Fort McMurray fresh in our minds, we decided to go fill the truck tank with gas. I guess you just never know when you’ll need to make a run for it, and I want a full tank of gas if that day every comes!

Then, since it was 9:30 pm and sunny, we weren’t going to sleep anytime soon. We decided to go for a drive. We headed south towards the airport and could see the big plume of smoke to the west.

We decided to drive a bit closer in that direction. Because.. well why not? We headed off the highway on Hunker Creek Road.

One minute it felt so far away it must be miles and miles, and then I’d think it must just be over the next hill! It is tricky to tell how far away a smoke plume is!

We met no one until we were 20km or so down the road, and then ran into a fire crew coming out. They stopped us and let us know we’d want to turn around soon because the flames on the side of the road were about 300 ft high.

We drove a bit further and then took their advice and turned around!

By Monday morning the fire was 75 hectares and today it is over 300 hectares! So far none of the gold mining operations have been affected, but it is burning just 4km from one of them.

“The fire burning near Hunker Creek, 24 kilometres southeast of Dawson City, is now an estimated 302 hectares in size. “This fire is the only active fire in the territory right now and that has allowed us to increase the number of resources assigned to the fire,” said Duty Officer Lorne Harris. “Firefighters, helicopters and heavy equipment worked the fire Monday and returned early today.” Today, 21 firefighters have been assigned to the fire, along with three helicopters and several pieces of heavy equipment including bulldozers, cats and water tenders. The temperatures in the Hunker Creek area are expected to drop to the mid-teens today which should aid firefighting efforts.”

~ http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/pdf/Wildfire_bulletin7(1).pdf

Although it is still windy, the weather took a big turn yesterday and this morning it snowed for a bit before turning to rain! Our fire danger index is back down to Low, so that is good news!

The Shed

We’re in a rental house that Jeff’s employer provides, and although there is a yard, there isn’t a shed. We got rid of SO much of our stuff when we moved across the country, but it is still tough having all of your remaining tools, camping equipment, hunting, and fishing gear in rubbermaid totes stacked up.

Jeff was able to get permission from the management of our rental house to build a shed in our back yard, providing it is temporary and leaves when we do. Dawson City has some pretty strict building regulations, due to its historical status, so the shed needs to be under 130 square feet, and less than 8 feet tall. It also has to have a metal roof, and historically accurate siding, and it has to be at least 10 feet away from the neighbours beside us.

So here is the progression so far:

Jeff made the two sides like sled runners so it can be dragged, lifted, or pulled elsewhere. Or it could be dismantled. Who knows how long we’ll be here. The rent is great, but the rules include just one pet, and regardless, we’ll be evicted the day Jeff retires so it can’t be a forever home.

We’ve got a back lane here, so it’s be easy for Jeff to get supplies unloaded. (Getting supplies is a trickier task because our lumber yard’s stock really depends on what their delivery truck is able to bring up from the south.)

It was so ridiculously hot (like 30C!) that Jeff rigged up an umbrella to save his skin.

He’s done almost everything himself and it is going pretty fast! 

Today he is working on the roof.

And on the vapour barrier for the sides. He didn’t use this on his last shed and regretted it, so this one will have it!

He’s got so many plans of all the things that will be leaving our house and going in here. Maybe even a freezer if he has a successful hunting season because it won’t even need to be plugged in for at least half the year (winter).

For kicks, I’ll sign off and let you know that today the sun rose at 4:46am and it won’t set until 11:32pm. Crazy eh?