If the present trend continues, the Yukon looks to be heading towards an unusual record this forest fire season with the highest number of fires destroying the smallest number of acres.

Up until Friday there had been 112 forest fires in the territory burning 230 acres -- about two acres a fire average.

The previous low acreage burning in a season was 480 acres in 1964 but that damage was caused by 25 fires. The highest number was in last year’s disastrous summer when about a million and half acres were ravaged by 137 fires.

Forest fire statistics have been kept by the Forestry department for 20 years -- before that the Army maintained records but they ironically were lost in a fire. For statistical purposes the fire season extends from April 1 to September 30.

This year’s figures are due to two factors, weather and efficient resources to fight fires, said Superintendent of Forestry John Gass.

"You’ve got to get to a fire to put it out," said Gass, and our water bomber and fast helicopters have helped.

The Yukon forest Service has a three-month contract for the whirlybird in this area and a four month contract in Dawson as well as a super cub on lease at Watson Lake. Also pitted against the forest fire danger are the men in eight look-out towers across the territory.

But the fire fighting business is not the kind you get too optimistic about at this stage of the season.

"Hunters are causing us problems now," said Gass. "They go into the bush and leave their camp fires burning."

There was a potentially serious fire in the Faro area near the Big Salmon River Thursday that was thought to be caused by hunters’ carelessness. The Faro area was one of the worst hits last summer when the embryo village was wiped out June 13.

"There have been about 56 fires in the Whitehorse district and nearly all of them have been caused by human carelessness," reported Gass.

"That’s a lot more than usual too but then there’s no such thing as an average year in forest fire fighting."