Evacuation alert rescinded near Ethel Lake, Yukon; fire restrictions lifted across territory
Evacuation alert was first issued for Ethel Lake on June 24
The Yukon government has rescinded an evacuation alert for the area around Ethel Lake, and has also lifted fire restrictions across the territory.
"Wildland fire crews have made progress containing priority fires across the Yukon, helped by decreased fire behaviour and cooler, wetter conditions," reads a bulletin from fire officials on Wednesday afternoon.
The level-2 fire restriction was put in place last week for most regions of the territory and was lifted as of Wednesday.
Meantime, the wildfire that prompted the evacuation alert for the Ethel Lake area on June 24 continues to burn out of control.
On Tuesday, the government said Ethel Lake Road will be open only to local traffic and the Ethel Lake campground will remain closed as it is being used to stage wildland fire crews who continue to work in the area.
Evacuation alerts don't mean residents have to leave their homes, but they do mean people who live in the area needed to be prepared to do so if the wildfire threat grew worse.
The government says fire behaviour on the so-called Francis Plateau fire in central Yukon, east of Stewart Crossing, was low on Monday with minimal smoke in the evening.
The blaze is about 7.5 square kilometres in size.
The government says crews are working along the south, southwest and western edges to extinguish hot spots and two helicopters are working to help bucket water.
The fire in the Mayo region is one of about 85 active fires burning in the Yukon. The territory lists it as one of seven wildfires of note.
Wildfires of note are either highly visible or pose a threat to public safety, a community or critical infrastructure such as a highway.