The number of forest fires continues to grow, and more are expected today as hot and dry conditions persist with more thunder and lightning forecast.

The total area burning was estimated this morning by Yukon Wildland Fire Management at 8,342 hectares, up more than 8,000 hectares from Friday morning.

The three largest fires are burning in the wilderness zone with no action being taken on them.

Firefighters did protect historical sites along the Teslin River that were threatened by a fire detected Friday 20-plus kilometres east of Lake Laberge – currently estimated at 2,000 hectares.

A blaze burning in the Watson Lake district near Airplane Lake in the Liard River drainage is the largest at 3,000 hectares, and another one in the southeast near the Beaver River is the third-largest at 1,000 ha.

Light ash from the Airplane Lake fire was falling last night in Watson Lake.

Of the 43 active fires, action is being taken on 10, fire information officer Sarah Murray said this morning.

She said the 72 initial attack firefighters who arrived Saturday from Ontario to assist the 66 Yukon firefighters were briefed and deployed Sunday.

During a period of high fire activity, Yukon firefighters can work up to 19 days straight but then must take at least two days off, she explained.

Murray said firefighters have also established a sprinkler system around a placer mining camp near Scroggie Creek in the Dawson district to provide structural protection against a 300-ha. fire burning two kilometres away.

A fire near the mining camp of the proposed Casino mine is also being monitored closely, as is a new eight-ha. fire near Tombstone along the Dempster Highway, Murray said.

“There were 12 new starts in the territory yesterday,” said duty officer Mike Sparks.

“Ontario and Yukon crews with air tanker and helicopter support were able to aggressively initial attack the priority fires that put values at risk.”

Wildland Fire Management is predicting more new lightning-caused fires today, while the forecast is again calling for hot and dry weather with lightning and thunder.

The fire danger rating is extreme across the territory, with the exception of a rating of high in Watson Lake and moderate in the Old Crow district.

All burning permits have been suspended, though open campfires are still permitted outside Whitehorse city limits and the Kluane National Park.

But officials are asking that caution be used and campers make sure their fires are extinguished.

Campfires inside Whitehorse are only permitted in approved fire pits inside established campgrounds or in backyard fire pits that have been inspected and approved by the city fire department.

Last Wednesday, Kluane National Park announced a ban on all open fires, even inside approved campground fire pits.