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Fires blaze across Yukon

Yukon Fires burn this week near Dawson, Mayo and Beaver Creek. None of the communities are currently being threatened, but officials are monitoring the situations closely, said George Maratos with Wildland Fire Management.
dawsonfire

Fires burn this week near Dawson, Mayo and Beaver Creek.

None of the communities are currently being threatened, but officials are monitoring the situations closely, said George Maratos with Wildland Fire Management.

The Mayo fire has been burning for more than a week, and has grown to an estimated 4,200 hectares in size.

Around 15 firefighters are actively fighting the northwest corner of the fire to guide it away from two cabins in the area.

“They were not getting the same kind of hot conditions as Dawson was, so it was actually pretty quiet on the fire yesterday,” said Maratos on Tuesday.

The Dawson fire was reported by a pilot Monday evening.

It remains visible from the Top of the World Highway and from on top of the Dome, especially during hot hours of the day, said Maratos.

There are a few cabins and a mining camp close to the fire.

Sprinklers have been set up to protect the cabins.

The camp, still 10 kilometres away, is on alert should the fire become a greater threat.

A large fire burning in Alaska is blowing smoke into the community of Beaver Creek.

The fire remains 15 kilometres from the border and is being watched closely, said Maratos.

With warm temperatures continuing this week, burn permits are suspended across most of the territory.

Campfires are not recommended but there is no fire ban in place yet, said Maratos.

Any fires should be extinguished until they are cold to the touch.