With few wildfires hitting the territory this season, 18 Yukon firefighters have been sent to B.C. to help battle a 150-hectare blaze near Chetwynd.

Shawn Corrigan is a training co-ordinator with Wildland Fire Management who's acting as the agency representative for the Yukon while in B.C.

In a telephone interview this morning, he said the six, three-person ground crews have been working with 75 B.C. firefighters to control the blaze along with the Yukon air attack crew for the past three days or so.

The Chetwynd fire is believed to be lightning-caused, and started out as a 70- to 80-hectare blaze.

It grew, in part, due to the torches the crews were using to help direct the blaze toward a fuel break where it can be better-fought.

Prior to starting work on the outbreak, the 18 firefighters spent a few days travelling down with equipment while fire management personnel in B.C. determined where each of the three-person crews would go, Corrigan said.

Sending the firefighters to the province isn't uncommon in a season where there are few fires or risk of a fire in the territory, he said.

Agreements among the provinces and territories allow for the assistance, Corrigan said.

"It's been a slow season (in the Yukon)," he said.

While the crews have been dealing with a large blaze, the team has been working well, with no unforeseen challenges coming up, Corrigan said.

Just how long the Yukoners stay in the province will depend on the weather there.

"It's hard to say," Corrigan said before noting that rain is forecast for the coming days.

Normally, ground crews might stay in other regions for up to two weeks before returning to the Yukon.

Corrigan noted that while the ground crew doesn't know when its work will be done just yet, the air attack crew - which includes the pilot and air attack officer in the DC-6 waterbomber - was expected to be discharged shortly to return to the territory.