Firefighters from outside the territory will be arriving this weekend to beef up resources as the fire danger rating remains extreme across most of the Yukon.

George Maratos, an information officer with Yukon Wildland Fire Management, said this morning a request for 16 additional initial attack crews of three firefighters each – or a total of 48 firefighters – has been forwarded to the Canadian Inter-agency Forest Fire Centre.

The additional firefighters will likely be coming from Ontario, which is experiencing a slow start to the fire season. They are expected to begin arriving Saturday, though it’s uncertain whether the Yukon will receive all 48, he said.

While there was only one new fire detected Wednesday, he said, there is still the possibility aerial monitoring across the territory will pick up more new starts as a result of new lightning or lightning that rolled through a couple of days ago.

“We are not expecting the activity to quiet here,” he said. “Hopefully, we will not get a bunch of new activity, but the likelihood is there.”

The Yukon has 66 full-time seasonal firefighters, as well as a list of extra firefighters who can be called upon.

Under these circumstances, when additional initial attack resources may be required, it’s better to rely on Outside firefighters who’ve already received the required training, he said.

There are 16 fires burning in the territory, though most are in the wilderness area and are not threatening any values.

Action is being taken on a handful of fires given their locations, the priority being a 12-hectare lightning-caused blaze 19 kilometres southeast of Mayo near Francis Lake.

Reported at 4 p.m. Wednesday, nine firefighters assisted by air tankers were on the fire late yesterday and again this morning, along with additional firefighters.

“Given the fire’s proximity to Mayo and the hot and dry conditions in the area, this fire is now a top priority,” said Yukon duty officer Mike Sparks.

“Firefighters, helicopters and both airtanker groups aggressively fought the fire yesterday and that work will continue today.”

Firefighters remain on the blaze near the Dempster Highway Cutoff, which is being contained at 38 hectares.

It’s the largest fire being fought, and one of five human-caused blazes which kicked off the territory’s fire season, including four over the Victoria Day long weekend.

The largest fire started by lightning is burning up north in the area of the Dempster Highway and was estimated yesterday at 200 hectares.

Weather is expected to remain hot and dry, with scattered thunder and lightning across the territory.

The fire danger rating remains extreme in the Whitehorse district, Watson Lake, Ross River, Mayo, Haines Junction, Carmacks and Beaver Creek. It’s high in Dawson, moderate in Teslin and low in Old Crow.

All burning permits in the territory have been cancelled, though campfires outside the City of Whitehorse and Kluane National Park are still permitted, though fire officials ask the public to be careful.

Campfires inside the city are only permitted in approved fire pits inside established campgrounds.

Kluane National Park issued a complete ban on all fires on Wednesday.