Lightning sparks new Yukon wildfires near Dawson, Mayo

Lightning strikes triggerednew forest fires near Dawson City and Mayo, Yukon, as water tankers from Alaskajoined the firefighting effort Friday.

The newest fire was burningjust a kilometre away from the Silver Trail Highway between Mayo and Keno City.

"Lightning sparked a fire in the Mayo district, it's burning approximately 22 kilometres north of Mayo, but also given it's proximity to the community it is a high priority as well," said fire information officer George Maratos.

Meanwhile a five-hectare fire sparked by lightning Thursday continued to burn11 kilometres northeast of Dawson City. Six helicopters, water tankers from Yukon and Alaska, and 21 firefighters from Yukon and Ontario were battling that fire, officials with Wildland Fire Management said.

"This fire was hit hard and fast by firefighters, helicopters and an airtanker group given its proximity to Dawson and the burning conditions," duty officer Catherine Spence said in a news release. "The quick detection and subsequent response limited the fire's growth and staff were able to reduce the aggressive fire behaviour."

Officials monitoring several fires

Three other new fires were reported in the Dawson area Thursday, but officials say they're all in remote areas and pose no risk to property. Crews also extinguished a small fire in the Mayo district near the confluence of the North and South McQuestenrivers.

Fire officials said they are also keeping a close eye on a fire burning five kilometres from the Eagle Plains Lodge on the DempsterHighway, as well as fires burning near the Casino and Scroggie Creek mining camps.

The risk of fire in the Mayo, Ross River, Teslin and Whitehorse fire districts is now extreme, while the risk remains high around Carmacks, Dawson and Haines Junction.

Open campfires remain banned within Whitehorse and Dawson city limits. Elsewhere, officials are urging the public to start fires only when necessary. They are stepping up patrols this weekend because many students will be out celebrating graduation.

So far this season 76 fires have burned more than 17,000 hectares across Yukon.