Yukon government experts in heritage preservation will be evaluating the impact of a recent fire at the Paddlewheel Graveyard in Dawson City. The fire, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, caused additional harm to one of the historic riverboats, although firefighters successfully prevented the flames from spreading to other wrecks dating back over a century.
Rebecca Jansen, overseeing historic sites for the territory, mentioned that a team will be employing a drone to assess the extent of the fire damage at the site, building on a previous drone survey conducted a month ago. The main objective is to ensure the safety of the location and determine any necessary actions to preserve its historical significance.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, with reports indicating that it was reported by a ferry worker around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, and firefighters worked for approximately five to six hours to contain it. The Paddlewheel Graveyard, also known as the West Dawson Shipyard, was established around 1900 as a facility for storing and repairing riverboats during winter, located on the opposite side of the river from the main Dawson townsite.
Described as a valuable repository of sternwheelers from a bygone era, this collection offers unique insights into the evolution of vessel designs and their operational adaptations on the Yukon River. Rebecca Jansen emphasized its potential as one of the most significant assemblies of sternwheelers in North America, attracting interest from researchers exploring the maritime heritage of the region.
Despite the cultural and historical importance of the wrecks, efforts to preserve them have been limited compared to other renowned vessels like the S.S. Klondike in Whitehorse or the S.S. Keno in Dawson City. Plans for constructing a protective walkway around the wrecks to deter unauthorized access were considered previously but were abandoned due to budget constraints.