Two large fires are threatening the Kotaneelee gas plant in southeast Yukon.
The blazes are estimated at over 20,000 hectares each, and are located 22 kilometres from the oil field.
“These fires are very large and very active with extreme fire behaviour, so extinguishing these fires right now is not an option,” said Mike Etches, director of Yukon Wildland Fire Management.
Plans to evacuate the four staff members currently at the plant are in place in case such action becomes necessary.
Thick smoke may be visible in the nearby community of Fort Liard, N.W.T., 55 kilometres to the east.
Firefighting crews continue to work on fires near the Little Salmon River and at Aishihik Lake.
Motorists can expect delays on the Robert Campbell Highway east of Carmacks.
More B.C. firefighters arrived in the territory Thursday, replacing crews who had been in the Yukon for two weeks.
(Jacqueline Ronson)