Following Monday evening’s thunderstorms, 70 fires are burning across the Yukon today.

Yukon Protective Services spokesperson Julia Duchesne said several blazes in the Dawson City district are causing a lot of smoke, ash and debris today.

The Coal Creek fire (DA-024) and Brewery Creek fire (DA-013) are two notable fires that officials are currently assessing by plane, Duchesne added.

“Whitehorse fires received a lot of rain overnight which should mean quieter fire behaviour today. Whitehorse fire 12 (XY-012 or the Mitchie Lake fire) is now 188 hectares in size. It’s 24 kilometres northeast of Marsh Lake and the Alaska Highway.

“Smoke may be visible from the Whitehorse area. It’s located northeast of the Mitchie Lake chain and is still growing to the north,” she said.

“Whitehorse fire 7 (Lake Laberge fire) is now burning high up in the mountains rather than down by the Teslin and Thirty Mile rivers, but paddlers should use caution in the area, and should not camp around Hootalinqua or stop in any burned areas.”

Fires continue to burn in other regions as well.

“Carmacks fires 5, 6 and 7 (Ta’tla Mun, Bear Feed Creek, and Ptarmigan Mountain) are still active,” Duchesne said.

“Smoke is visible from the Robert Campbell and North Klondike Highways, and Pelly Crossing. None of these fires is a threat to any communities or highways.

“Structure protection is in place at buildings and cabins near the fires, including the Selkirk First Nation site at Ta’tla Mun Lake, and crews are monitoring the fires closely.”

Duchesne said 2,800 lightning strikes were recorded in the last 24 hours, all south of Faro/Carmacks/Ross River.

“The fire danger rating is low or moderate in the south from Carmacks, Faro and Ross River on down, and high or extreme in Pelly, Beaver Creek, and everywhere north.”