Yukon Wildland Fire Management crews responded to a suspicious fire in Watson Lake Wednesday afternoon.

The half-hectare blaze was quickly contained thanks to quick responses by both the crews and volunteer firefighters from the town.

"Obviously, this fire is a concern, given its location and close proximity to homes,” duty officer Mike Sparks said today.

"Fortunately, it was detected early and contained before it could become a more serious situation but the potential was there had there been stronger winds.”

The fire, located near Wye Lake, was discovered just before 2 p.m. by a Wildland Fire Management staff member who was surveying water levels over the Upper Liard area. It was extinguished within a few hours.

The fire is the just the second one in the territory this season.

Like the first fire in Whitehorse, near Yukon College, it was suspicious, and had the potential to be much more severe.

"The message is simple and that is to be responsible when lighting any fire,” said Sparks.

"If these preventable human-caused fires continue it is only a matter of time before something much more serious occurs.”

The public is reminded that burning permits are now mandatory in the territory for any open burning except within Whitehorse city limits, where no burning is permitted until Sept. 30.

Those having campfires are asked to burn responsibly and ensure their fires are completely extinguished before leaving the area.

See more on this fire as part of a feature on firefighters' readiness for the season, p. 4.