Yukon Wildland Fire Management officials began a series of controlled burns Monday in the Mary Lake area.

“Prescribed burn operations began around 3:00 p.m. and are well underway,” fire officials said in a social media post Monday evening.

“The edge of the seven-hectare block of mulch was wetted down (Monday) morning and fire crews are now burning off sections in a planned manner. Crews will extinguish the burn after it is completed and monitor overnight.”

The work was originally planned for July, but had to be put off due to hot weather conditions. It was postponed again last week due to the heat wave.

The burn will likely continue this week, as it’s being carried out in sections. The area affected is known as the Whitehorse South Fuel Break.