Wildfire restrictions are now in place across many parts of the Yukon as the situation continues to worsen.

Thursday evening Wildland Fire Management has put a level 2 fire restriction in place for the Beaver Creek, Haines Junction, Carmacks, Ross River, Dawson, Mayo and Old Crow fire districts. The North Klondike Highway was still closed to highway traffic as a result, as of press time today. Travellers are advised to monitor 511 for current conditions through the long weekend. Stewart Crossing remains under evacuation alert.

“As of now, cooking and warming fires in these areas are only allowed in fire pits or other purpose-made containers at road-accessible campgrounds.”

Wildland Fire management said “this is the second level in the Yukon’s three-tiered fire restriction system. Fire use within Dawson City and Whitehorse is determined by those municipalities. Fire in national parks is managed by Parks Canada”.

The statement added “personal fire use is being restricted because there is extreme fire danger caused by hot and dry weather and recent fire activity. Fire crews are faced with significant fire response operations that could be compromised by preventable human-caused wildfires.

Under extreme conditions, fires can start easily, spread rapidly and challenge fire response efforts.”

To date, there have been 62 fires in the territory.

A total of 36,337.7 hectares have burned.

Twenty-two fires have been extinguished.

Early this afternoon there was an update posted on the fire situation

“The Haldane Lakes fire (MA-012) and the Shanghai Creek fire (MA-014) are two fires in the Dublin Gulch area north of Mayo. These fires are both currently out of control and approximately 70 hectares (MA-012) and 300 hectares (MA-014).”

“These fires have closed the South McQuesten Road and affected five power lines beside the road. Crews and heavy equipment have been focused on building reinforced dozer guard on the southeast corner of the fire. Yesterday the fire held to both the east and west.”

“Today an initial attack crew, 20-person unit crew, 2 helicopters and heavy equipment are working on this fire.”

A mid-afternoon update said Wildfire crews are working on two small lightning-caused fires, TE-001 and TE-002, east of Teslin. 

TE-001 is 0.1 hectares in size and is located near Alaska Highway Kilometre 1222. Smoke is visible from the highway, which is open.