Yukon Wildland Fire Management is sending 21 fire personnel to the Northwest Territories tomorrow to assist with the jurisdiction’s current fire situation. The group includes 20 firefighters and one agency representative.

The Yukon firefighters will be assigned to a large fire in the Hay River district near the community of Kakisa which has been impacted by fire in recent weeks.

“Given the large number of fires currently burning in the Northwest Territories, we are happy to provide support to our neighbours to the east,” said duty officer Dave Milne. “With our fire situation being quiet right now it is an excellent opportunity for our Yukon firefighters to gain experience firefighting in another jurisdiction.”

There are currently more than 130 fires burning in the N.W.T. Smoke from the fires is visible throughout Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The N.W.T. smoke was also affecting some Yukon communities earlier this week and those conditions could return depending on the fire activity.

The contingent of firefighters is made up of Yukon Government and First Nations crews from across the territory. They are expected to be in the N.W.T for two weeks, but can be recalled to Yukon within 24 hours if necessary.

Meanwhile, one human-caused fire was reported in the Carmacks district on Wednesday. Reported by a member of the public, the 0.1 hectare was burning near Eagle Rock along the Robert Campbell Highway, east of Carmacks.

This season there have been 22 fires in the territory, burning approximately 550 hectares of forest. The public is reminded to burn responsibly, ensure any fires they light are put out and report any Yukon wildfires to 1-888-798-FIRE (3473).