Yukon firefighters on their way to help out N.W.T.

Twenty Yukon firefighters flew out of Whitehorse today to help out beleaguered crews in the N.W.T., which is facing its worst wildfire season in decades.

Dan Adamson, who has been fighting fires in the Yukon for 16 years, says pitching in to help out elsewhere is all part of the job.

"We've been on base a long time this year so it is a good opportunity," he said.

Yukon Wildland Fire Management spokesperson George Maratos says the Yukon crew will be assigned to the large fire threatening the community of Kakisa.

"Obviously they want to be out there fighting fire, that's why they took the job, so getting an opportunity to go to the N.W.T. and apply their skills, they're pretty excited about it," he said.

He says they are assigned for two weeks, but could be recalled to the Yukon on 24 hours notice, if needed.

So far this year there only been 22 forest fires in the Yukon that have burned about 500 square kilometres. In the N.W.T., 172 fires have burned more than 800,000 square kilometres.