Holdover fire near Dettah likely started from abandoned campfire, NWT Fire says

NWT Fire says it's seeing campfires left unattended in the Yellowknife area and that even though there's still some ice on the lakes, those fires pose serious risk.

"It is so discouraging to see this sort of thing especially after what was experienced last year," N.W.T. wildfire information officer Mike Westwick said in an emailed fire update.

Westwick said crews saw that threat in action with a fire spotted near Dettah that NWT Fire suspects started from a campfire and was abandoned over winter

That fire, ZF001, is about 10 kilometers south of Dettah and less than one hectare large.

It's one of two fires discovered Monday, along with an approximately three-hectare fire in the South Slave. That fire was detected about seven kilometres south of Tathlina Lake and about 50 kilometers from Kakisa.

There are a total of five active fires in the territory as of Tuesday morning. Westwick said that no cabins, communities or infrastructure areat risk from any of those fires.

Westwick said throughout the Dehcho and South Slave, drought and high temperatures are creating extreme fire danger.

"Fire season is here," he said. "We really need everybody to be doing their part to be holding themselves and others accountable for how they use fire on the land."