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Wildfire near Pelly Crossing under control

Firefighters from Mayo, Dawson City, Carmacks and Whitehorse have brought a forest fire near the Yukon community of Pelly Crossing under control.

A member of the public called in the fire early Tuesday afternoon, Yukon Wildland Fire Management said in a release.

The fire was spread over 50 hectares about 20 kilometres south of Pelly Crossing, but a dozen firefighters brought it under control, battling it Tuesday night and again Wednesday.

"A big part of what was driving the increase in size was the high winds in the area," Yukon Fire information officer George Maratos said Wednesday.

Maratos warned that fires are still a threat despite the cooler weather.

"There's a lot of mining companies out there still working, and hunting season as well, so people are going to be burning. And we just ask they make sure their fires are completely extinguished," he said.

The fire is believed to have been caused by human activity.

Crews will keep at the fire on Wednesday, but it's not expected to grow, Maratos said.

The blaze had been visible from Pelly Crossing, Maratos said, prompting a flurry of calls from concerned residents.