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Homeowners cause 2 Yukon wildfires

The Yukon fire season officially opened this week after two fires were extinguished — one in Watson Lake and the other in Whitehorse. Both were human-caused.

A half-hectare fire that was dangerously close to homes in Watson Lake was put out Wednesday afternoon.

Wildland fire manager Mike Sparks said the fire near Wye Lake was started by a homeowner trying to clear brush off their property.

“It got into some old manure piles and it smoldered away and they didn't notice it,” said Sparks.

A few days earlier, crews in Whitehorse had to put out a fire in the Macintyre subdivision. Someone nearly burned their house down trying to clear old grass from their lawn.

Half of all fires in the Yukon each summer are human-caused.

Wildland fire director Mike Etches says people need to burn responsibily

“It's better not to have a fire in the first place than to respond to one once it gets going,” he said.

Officials are reminding people that fireworks and open fires aren't allowed in the city without a permit.

Meanwhile campfires should be properly doused before leaving a site.

Anyone who spots smoke or fire is encouraged to call the fire department.