Yukon forest fire season 'remarkably quiet'

A "remarkably quiet fire season" in Yukon so far this year may be due in part to the Fort McMurray fires, said fire information officer George Maratos.

He says the number of human-caused fires in Yukon isdown.

"I think it was just more of an awareness thing, where people saw the devastation [in Fort McMurray]and took the time to put out their campfires, to make sure they were burning responsibly," Maratossaid.

So far there have been 35 fires in Yukonthis season, burning an estimated16,137 hectares. Most of those fires have been lightning caused.

The 10-year average is 74 fires burning 68,712 hectares by July 13.

Last yearwas an above-average year for fires in spring and early summer, with179 firesand174,000 hectares burned by July 13.

Maratos says the biggest factoris the weather.

"It was hot and dry last May [2015] where we saw 90 fires, and this year we've been getting that perfect balance of where we've been getting two or three days of sunshine and then a lot of precipitation."

Maratos saidheavydownpours in southern Yukon on Tuesdaynight and wet weather in other regions have helped lower the fire risk to "low" everywhere in Yukon except Watson Lake, where it's considered "moderate".