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2 fires near Whitehorse's Riverdale area contained

Yukon Wildland Fire Management crews and City of Whitehorse firefighters responded and crews remain on the scene working to fully extinguish the fires.

Fires near Chadburn Lake likely human-caused, says Yukon Wildland Fire Management

A helicopter dumps water on a fire near the Riverdale neighbourhood of Whitehorse. Two fires in the area have been contained, says Yukon Wildland Fire Management. (Philippe Morin/CBC)

Two fires near the Riverdale neighbourhood of Whitehorse have been contained, says Yukon Wildland Fire Management.

Two separate fires were reported Thursday afternoon near Schwatka Lake, on the Chadburn Lake Road.

Fire Information Officer George Maratos says several callers reported the blazes and Yukon Wildland Fire Management crews and City of Whitehorse firefighters responded.  

Crews remain on the scene working to fully extinguish the fires. A helicopter assisted ground crews by dumping water on the fires. 

"Given the conditions, the location, this could have been a much more serious situation," he said.

Maratos says he believes the fires were human-caused. Maratos says people need to be reminded that campfires are not permitted within city limits and any burning is not a good idea in windy conditions.