Lightning sparks wildfire near Stewart Crossing, Yukon

Crews battled a 90-hectare wildfire Sunday near the small community of Stewart Crossing, Yukon, about 180 kilometres southeast of Dawson City.

Yukon Wildland Fire Management immediately deployed ground crews, helicopters and planes to fight the blaze because it's close to the community. Officials say the fire, burning 23 kilometres from the community, was triggered by lightning overnight.

"Both airtanker groups were deployed to this fire along with helicopters and several initial attack crews," said Yukon duty officer Lorne Harris in a news release. "They worked the fire late into the night and that work will continue early [Sunday]."

Three other fires flared up across Yukon on Saturday. Officials reported a 25-hectare fire in the Ross River district, burning far from settled areas. A "spot-sized" fire was caused by lightning 102 kilometres from Mayo and is being monitored by Wildland Fire Management. And a 0.2-hectare fire started by human activity was quickly put out by firefighters.

The fire hazard has risen to extreme in much of central Yukon, including the Dawson, Mayo, Carmacks and Beaver Creek fire districts.

Meanwhile, smoke from fires burning in both Yukon and Alaska continues to be visible in much of the territory. Conditions were hazy in Dawson City Sunday.

A total of 112 wildfires have burned nearly 32,000 hectares of land so far this summer.