A change in weather across the territory has given firefighters a leg up over the last couple of days.

Of the 70 fires burning in the Yukon, 11 are actively being fought while most are burning in the remote wilderness zones, though some are being closely monitored.

The fire two kilometres away from the Eagle Plains Lodge on the Dempster Highway is one of those being monitored. Structural protection around the lodge has been established.

Fire information officer George Maratos of Yukon Wildland Fire Management said today temperatures in the Dempster area plunged over the weekend – down to zero at one point – so fire activity has been reduced substantially.

“But it’s still being monitored because of its proximity to the lodge,” he said.

Maratos said 51 firefighters with air support from seven helicopters are on the 220-hectare Ruiter Creek fire that blew up Friday 11 kilometres from Dawson City.

An air tanker from Alaska was also called in to assist with air support on the Ruiter Creek fire.

The 72 firefighters from Ontario who arrived just over a week ago are still here providing assistance with no plans in sight to release them, Maratos said.

The forecast over the next few days is calling for cooler and damper conditions but more thunder and lightning are expected.

Three new fires started by lightning were detected Sunday in the Mayo, Carmacks and Beaver Creek districts.

While most of the territory was under extreme fire conditions for much of the last week, the danger has fallen to low or moderate in seven of the 10 districts. The danger rating in Carmacks, Dawson City and Haines Junction is high.

A 4,800-hectare fire burning in the wilderness zone near Scroggie Creek in the Dawson district is the territory’s largest forest fire.