A Forest Service spokesman said that ten of the fires were being fought. All 24 were over 1,000 acres in size. Smoke in the Stuart Crossing, Stuart River, Dawson City and Mayo areas was so dense that it was impossible to determine the size of each burn.

Fourteen fires which were not being fought were in “non-protected areas”. This means they are either too remote to reach or low in resource value and of no danger to a community.

Two big fires raged along the banks of Hunker, All Gold, and Bonanza Creeks immediately south of Dawson City. Another big fire was burning between the north and south forks of Henderson Creek several miles from the Rudy Burians’ home at Steward River. The Forest Service has a crew at the Burian’s place at the present time. Two fires were being fought at Lake Creek, west of Stewart Crossing and still another was being battled near Barlow on the Dawson-Mayo Road.

In other areas of the Yukon Forest Service men were fighting to contain blazes near Midway, Ethel Lake, Dragon Lake on the Canol Road, and the Highland River near Watson Lake.

The Forest Service has already put out eight fires.

Long range weather forecasts see continued hot weather with heavy thunderstorm activity over the coming weeks.

Principal cause of the present fires was widespread thunderstorms last Friday.

Six more fires were reported to have broken out in the area northeast of snag, but will not he fought because of their remote location.