Despite a blazing start, the Yukon’s fire season has now slowed down significantly, allowing the territory to send reinforcements to Oregon and Idaho.
Thirty-three firefighters left the territory Friday, most of them going to Idaho.
The American state is experiencing dry weather, and with lightning forecasted, they decided to call for support as a precautionary measure, Yukon Wildland Fire Management spokesperson George Maratos said.
“We could potentially send more but obviously we don’t want to leave the Yukon without necessary resources,” he said.
There are 36 firefighters left in the Yukon.
While there have been 182 fires since the beginning of the season, there hasn’t been a new fire in two and a half weeks, Maratos said.
He estimated that there are fewer than 108 active fires throughout the territory, none close to communities.
It wasn’t long ago that the Yukon was the one calling for help.
In late May, 64 firefighters flew in from Ontario. Yukon Wildland Fire Management was at the time dealing with fires near Mayo and Dawson City.
A month later, the territory called again for help. This time British Columbia answered the call, sending 30 firefighters.