Brian Dack says wildfires have come close to the Kluane Wilderness Lodge in southwestern Yukon before, but none have been so large and fast-moving as the blaze that害羞草研究所檚 currently threatening his business of more than two decades.

The fishing lodge on the shores of Wellesley Lake is accessible only by flying in, and it害羞草研究所檚 now the site of helicopter evacuations as the fire bears down on the lodge and its cabins after gusty winds whipped up the flames and smoke on Sunday.

The Yukon government said Monday that three cabins were destroyed after Sunday害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渆xtreme fire behaviour,害羞草研究所� but cooler tempertature and humidity tamed the blaze and 害羞草研究所渋t has not moved significantly since last night.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淗owever, it is still creating a lot of smoke.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t was absolutely incredible. I害羞草研究所檝e never seen nothing like it before,害羞草研究所� Dack said in an interview on Monday. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 burnt all the way down the lake on the west side and it害羞草研究所檚 about halfway down the lake on the east side.害羞草研究所�

Dack said winds were gusting up to 40 kilometres per hour.

害羞草研究所淗opefully it害羞草研究所檒l blow at the right direction, but right now it害羞草研究所檚 not,害羞草研究所� he said.

Still, Dack said he害羞草研究所檚 staying put with some staff at the lodge for now as wildfire crews set up structural protection sprinklers.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l set up more sprinklers around here and hope for the best,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut right now there害羞草研究所檚 not much we can do.害羞草研究所�

Dack said there would be a loss of revenue for the lodge for the rest of the summer due to the wildfire.

The out-of-control blaze was first reported in June and had grown to span more than 20 square kilometres as of Monday.

The Yukon government害羞草研究所檚 wildfire information website said the Snag Lake fire displayed 害羞草研究所渆xtreme behaviour害羞草研究所� in hot and dry conditions the day before.

It said fire officials were at the site and four people had been evacuated by helicopter, with further evacuations planned.

Dack said the those who left the lodge were a family from Northern California who were 害羞草研究所渧ery understanding害羞草研究所� about the evacuation.

害羞草研究所淚 think they害羞草研究所檙e kind of used to smoke,害羞草研究所� Dack said, adding the family told him they would return to the lodge next year.

Dack said the heat in the region has been 害羞草研究所渦nbearable害羞草研究所� at times this summer, and he害羞草研究所檚 noticed dry conditions on his forest walks.

害羞草研究所淭he moss, it just scrunches when you walk on it,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 mean, our hottest day here this year was 42 degrees, which is just unheard of for the North.害羞草研究所�

Dack said he can only hope that the area will see enough snow over the winter to snuff out the wildfire completely.

害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 just been so hot and dry and hardly any rain throughout the summer,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l just have to wait and see.害羞草研究所�

The Snag Lake wildfire is burning about 15 kilometres east of the Snag Junction area along the Alaska Highway. Smoke from the fire is visible, but the highway and buildings along the route are not currently at risk, the government website said.

British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 wildfire service, meanwhile, said areas in the south were benefiting from rain and cooler weather, a reprieve for the southeast in particular.

But a bulletin from the service on Monday said there害羞草研究所檚 a drying trend in the north and unfavourable winds could fan increased fire behaviour, especially in the northwest.

About 370 wildfires are active across B.C., with 34 per cent burning out of control, down from about 40 per cent in recent days.

Five blazes are considered 害羞草研究所渨ildfires of note,害羞草研究所� meaning they are highly visible or pose a threat to public safety or infrastructure, though the BC Wildfire Service said three are classified as 害羞草研究所渂eing held害羞草研究所� within their current or predetermined perimeters.

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