Burn ban in effect in Yellowknife, fire danger high in southern N.W.T.

For the first time this summer, Yellowknife has imposed an open air burning ban within city limits.

The move is due to extremely dry conditions, a news release says, and iseffective immediately.

The ban includes all fires in approved fire pits in Yellowknife.

Earlier this week, Amber Simpson, a wildfire information officer, said record high temperatures were in the forecast for many parts of the territory, increasing the danger of fires.

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The N.W.T.'s wildfire division is also warning of high to extreme fire danger in the southern regions of the territoryand high to medium in the Inuvik and Sahtu regions.

"Extreme fire conditions are expected across most of theDehcho, North Slave and South Slave regions going into the long weekend," reads Wednesday's fire update.

"Residents are advised to use extreme caution with campfires," the update reads. "Please NO bonfires."