Hundreds of lightning strikes around Yellowknife, but no new fires reported

Despite close to 700 lightning strikes in and around Yellowknife overnight Thursday and early Friday morning,none set off new forest fires, territorial government officials say.

The storm system began in Fort Providence Thursday night and movednorth toward Yellowknife overnight, before tapering off over Great Slave Lake on Friday morning, explainedAshley Brauweiler, themeteorologist for CBCNorth.

"The heat and humidity over the past few days helped fuel the thunderstorms, but an upper-level disturbance triggered them last night," she said. "The risk of thunderstorms continues through Saturday night for the Dehcho as well as the North and South Slave regions.'

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While strikes didn't set any fires, the conditions are ripe for a fire, Dawn Curtis, a spokespersonfor Environment and Natural Resources, said in an email.

The record rainfall that hit many communities earlier this month hasn't done enough to soak the forests, and conditions are drying out quickly, she said.

People going out on the land this weekend are asked to keep fires to a minimum and only use them for cooking or warmth.

Officials monitor fire near Fort Liard

The Northwest Territories' lone fire of note is burning about 20-kilometres southeast of Fort Liard. There are no properties or people at risk butconditions are extreme, according to a safety notice from the territorial government.

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Officials with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs are in touch with people in Fort Liardwho are monitoring the situation. A heat warning from Environment Canada will continue throughout the weekend.