Lightning starts 7 new fires in N.W.T. over the weekend

Lightning ignited seven new forest fires in the Northwest Territories since Friday, bringing the total number of fires this season to 24.

Amber Simpson, a wildfire information officer, said so far 12 fireshave been put out, 10 fires are being monitored, and two fires are being acted upon.

"[Fire]FS-010 is about five kilometres east of Fort Liard inthe Dehcho region. It is about two hectares in size and is being initial attacked by crews and air support," Simpson said.

Fire crews are also providing support to protect assets near a fire 200 hectares in size in the South Slave region.

Simpson said record high temperatures are in the forecast this week for many parts of the territory.

"For weather, fire danger is high to extreme in most areas of the southwest N.W.T. and high to medium in the Inuvik and Sahtu regions," Simpson said.

"More lightning is forecasted in the next few days.... There is a possibility of new starts."

As of Monday, the 24 fires haveburned15,202 hectares of forest. That estimate is down from 17,339 hectares reported on Fridayby the territory's forest management division.

Manager of Fire Operations Rick Olsen said computer modelling produced the initial number but it'ssince been revised.

"As we do mapping and get better, accurate information from the fire itself, we sometimes modify those sizes," Olsen said.

The territory's largest fire is near Wrigley at about15,000 hectares in size. Rain has dampened those flames. Olsen said fire crews have pulled out of the fire, but will continue to monitor the situation.