There are eight active wildfires across the territory, including a human-caused blaze identified Saturday night in the Bear Creek area.

Officials are hoping it will continue to spread away from Haines Junction.

As of Sunday afternoon, the blaze sat at about 35 to 40 hectares as fire crews ramped up their response with 15 firefighters, three helicopters, air tanker groups and heavy equipment. It’s northwest of the village.

Reached this morning, fire information officer of Yukon Wildland Fire Management Mike Fancie explained that pattern continued into today as those figures reached 20 firefighters, water tenders and four helicopters.

“We’re resourcing up based on what’s available because we want to ensure we’re doing as much as possible to stop this fire spread toward any property or infrastructure,” Fancie said.

A seasonal cabin, not under any immediate threat, saw a sprinkler kit deployed on it as a precautionary measure.

The fire has now grown to impact more than 130 hectares, Fancie added. (Figures show the village has the second-highest total hectares burned behind Dawson City, which sits at an extreme fire danger rating.)

As for if there will be any evacuation order, Fancie noted it’s still early days in their response to the fire, which was identified at around 11 p.m. Saturday.

“We are assessing all of the contingencies that might take place in response to the fire because we have the safety and well-being of Haines Junction residents first and foremost in our minds,” he said.

At this stage, he noted, the village is not under immediate threat, but it would take “prompt and appropriate action to ensure residents are aware of what they need to do” if needed.

He did note though that the forecast with consistent winds from the south in Alsek Valley could push it away from the village.

“Based on the best science we have and forecasting models we’ve been using year in and year out, we feel confident right now that we can expect it to move away from the village.”

One area resident said he knows of some people who have begun packing belongings in the event the village is evacuated.

Other areas that were under watch over the weekend include one abandoned camp fire on Long Lake Road in Whitehorse – the 26th fire of the season and 19th that was human-caused.

“It tells me that it’s important for Yukoners to remember that the situation right now in the Yukon is hot and dry,” Fancie said. “If you can avoid starting a fire, please do so.”

Crews responded to that campfire on Sunday evening.

Speaking from Kluane, Fancie explained the Bear Creek fire is not yet under control.

“That continues to be the one where we’re devoting the majority of our resources,” he said, adding residents can expect it to spread somewhat but away from the village.

Spruce bark beetles were numerous around Haines Junction years ago, dating back to the 2000s.

That’s a pattern that continues today as there is a “fair amount of spruce that has been killed off by the beetles,” Fancie added.

“Different kinds of organic matter ... will have different impacts on the speed and ability of the fire to spread.

“When you get dead trees like that, it does facilitate the spread of the fire.” That’s something that’s “one of those factors that we just have to consider in our planning of how we attack the fire,” he added.

Meanwhile, in total, there are just over 477 hectares burned this year spread over 26 fires, eight of which are active.

Those eight fires include:

• one that is a kilometre east of Ross River (impacting 1.5 hectares);

• the Bear Creek blaze impacting 137 hectares;

• Hart River’s 20-hectare fire;

• Pigue Creek’s 967-hectare fire; and

• Thistle Creek’s, hitting 156 hectares.

Tantulus Butte (0.04 hectares) and the Top of the World Highway (two hectares) are the others.

Areas that sit under extreme fire danger rating are Carmacks, Haines Junction, Dawson, Ross River and Watson Lake.

Those facing high danger ratings include Whitehorse, with Mayo and Teslin facing moderate risks.

A long-range forecast from chief meteorologist Chris Scott of The Weather Network predicts an “above normal season” for wildfires for most of British Columbia, western Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Yukon.