YELLOWKNIFE - A fire reported near the shore of Long Lake across from the beach on Monday emphasized dry summer conditions and a high fire hazard.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources dump water from Long Lake, using a helicopter, on a fire that started across the water from the beach at Fred Henne Park Monday evening. - photo courtesy of Paul Vecsei

The small blaze began between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Yellowknife Fire Department and crews from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources responded to the fire of unknown origin after reports of smoke were called in.

Deputy Fire Chief Chucker Dewar said the fire was likely man-made, possibly by a discarded cigarette, though the department had not determined the exact cause. Witnesses had reported youth being in the area around the time of the fire, however, according to Dewar since no one actually saw the fire being started, the chances of catching the person responsible are rather low.

The fire was not very large, Dewar said it was approximately three metres by three metres, and contained on a small rocky outcropping near the shore. The Yellowknife Fire Department left the situation in the hands of ENR's crew, who controlled the fire by bucketing water from the lake by helicopter.

Dewar said it was unlikely the fire had been burning for longer than a couple of hours, saying that it had burned a couple of small trees and the "duff", or ground material such as fallen twigs and leaves.

He said that the "significant wind" which was blowing at the time would have fanned the flames into something a bit larger had the fire been burning any longer than that.

Dewar mentioned that they typically respond to a few fires a year of this nature within the city limits, mostly during the summer, and that this was the first response in Fred Henne Park this year. He also said the dry summer conditions are the reason for the recently released city-wide burning ban.