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Carmacks fire still closely monitored

Carmacks fire still closely monitored Yukon Wildland Fire Management continues to fight a 16-square-kilometre fire caused by lightning that has burned in the Carmacks region beside the Robert Campbell Highway since late June.

Yukon Wildland Fire Management continues to fight a 16-square-kilometre fire caused by lightning that has burned in the Carmacks region beside the Robert Campbell Highway since late June. Motorists can expect delays.

“It’s producing quite a bit of smoke,” said spokesman George Maratos. The department is dealing with hot spots and any flare ups will be fought, he said. Right now it is burning 22 km away from residents of Carmacks.

They are monitoring the fire to ensure it doesn’t cross the Yukon River, but Maratos does not foresee that happening as weather is getting cooler with more rain.

The department also had to respond to three recent human-caused fires in Whitehorse.

The first one occurred on Saturday morning on Lake Laberge and was quickly contained. The second was at Cousins Airstrip yesterday. A helicopter bucketed that fire.

The third fire was near Whistle Bend yesterday morning and was also quickly quenched.

Maratos warns that human-caused fires take resources off of other fires. Around 80 B.C. firefighters are still providing support to the department, most of whom have been assigned to the Carmacks region.

Burning permits are currently restricted in Whitehorse, Carmacks, Haines Junction, Mayo and Teslin. Residents should call 1-888-798-3473 (FIRE) to report any fires.

(by Krystle Alarcon)