91社区破解版

鈥淚t鈥檚 particularly bad for the people of Carcross, who feel like they鈥檝e lost a family member,鈥� Jeff Hunston, director of the Yukon government鈥檚 heritage branch, said in an interview this morning.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also a major blow to the economy. We鈥檙e going to recover 鈥� Yukoners always do 鈥� but it鈥檚 a pretty tough blow to absorb.鈥�

Hunston and fellow heritage branch employees are reeling in shock today. They spent a better part of their working lives and more than $1 million to preserve the sternwheeler that plied the waters of the Southern Lakes district from 1917 to 1955, when it was retired in Carcross.

Loree Stewart, a heritage technician who spent countless hours carefully restoring the wooden vessel, is 鈥渄evastated,鈥� Hunston said. She drove to Carcross this morning with historic sites coordinator Doug Olynyk to assess the damage.

鈥淭hey鈥檒l see what鈥檚 retrievable but, obviously, there鈥檚 not much 鈥� maybe a few of the larger metal pieces鈥� Hunston said despondently. 鈥淭here鈥檚 more than a few tears across the territory.鈥�

Arson, he said, is suspected, although the real causes of the fire won鈥檛 be known until after the Fire Marshal has submitted his report.

鈥淥ne can speculate all one wants... but let鈥檚 just say it doesn鈥檛 look good.鈥�

The heritage branch was just in the process of installing a new fire suppression system in the Tutshi, Hunston said. But even if a sprinkler system was fully operational, once a fire broke out in the tinder-dry boat, 鈥淚t would be like spitting on a volcano.

鈥淭hese boats are so old and so dry that if you get a good fire going, there鈥檚 not much you can do about it. And the linseed oil used in preservation and the paints only make things worse... Bingo, it鈥檚 gone 鈥� there鈥檚 just no hope.鈥�

The vessel was equipped with fire hoses and extinguishers. But Hunston said they鈥檙e only effective if there鈥檚 personnel on board to detect a fire in its early stages.

And that leads to the heart of the problem 鈥� there are no resources available to the heritage branch to keep a 24-hour security watch over historic sites.

All Hunston can do is try to educate the public about the importance of preservation and the responsibility to ensure the yukon鈥檚 heritage is there for future generations to enjoy.

The loss of the Tutshi 鈥渞eally illustrates the vulnerability of our heritage 鈥� it鈥檚 under siege on all fronts. But people take it for granted. They go to bed at night and expect it to be there the next morning.

鈥淭he question is, is the public willing to spend the dollars to have people at these sites? It鈥檚 too late once it鈥檚 gone.鈥�

Devastating fires 鈥� accidental and deliberate 鈥� have claimed more than their share of the Yukon鈥檚 heritage, he said. The sad list includes the 91社区破解版 and the Casca paddlewheelers in 91社区破解版.

The 91社区破解版 Star, Wednesday, July 25, 1990