The Minto Landing forest fire has grown to more than 2,690 hectares in size since it was reported on Sunday, according to wildfire officials. (Yukon Wildland Fire Management)

Workers at the Minto copper mine in central Yukon are preparing to fend off a large forest fire that could come close to the mine site.

As of midday Wednesday, the 2,690-hectare wildfire is 9.1 kilometres east of the copper-gold mine, according to wildfire management officials.

Fire crews have been fighting the blaze, located near Minto Landing and about 32 kilometres southwest of Pelly Crossing, since it was reported on Sunday.

Officials say overcast conditions on Wednesday have reduced fire activity, allowing the team of 21 firefighters and one helicopter to reinforce site protection on known properties nearby.

About 150 people are at the mine site, which is owned by Capstone Mining Corp., president Stephen Quin told CBC News.

"It's a very serious fire in that it's both very aggressive, very hot, and moving very rapidly," Quin said Wednesday.

"While it's 10 to 12 kilometres from the mine site, it [the fire] did move four kilometres in a day … during periods there it was moving much faster than that."

Preparations underway

Quin said mine staff were especially worried on Monday, when the fire had jumped by about four kilometres towards the site.

The fire has appeared to have turned away from the mine. Quin said workers are using this time to get ready in case the blaze comes back, such as by moving water pipes and pumps in place.

Mining production continues for now, but Quin said the mine is operating on diesel-generated power while the hydroelectric line that connects to the site has been shut off for safety reasons.

"It's operating close to normal. The fire preparations [are] the priority and production is secondary, so we do have equipment that we've provided to wildland fire management people," he said.

Wildland fire information officer George Maratos told CBC News that a liaison officer is en route to the Minto mine and will provide assistance and support to mine staff.

Early fire season

Yukon forest fire officials are concerned about the next couple of days, as the forecast calls for more warm, windy and dry conditions, along with the possibility of lightning storms.

"We're essentially three weeks ahead of what traditionally is our fire season — the numbers we're getting, the indices, the fire danger rating, it's all at that June 21 level," Maratos said.

A total of 24 wildfires have been reported in the Yukon as of Wednesday, burning more than 32,100 hectares of forest.

Lightning started two wildfires Tuesday in a wilderness zone, south of Eagle Plains in northern Yukon.

Wildfire officials say both forest fires pose no threat to property. Both fires are expected to be reassessed later on Wednesday.

Fire bans still in effect

On Tuesday evening, crews put out a small fire in the Copper Ridge area in Whitehorse. Maratos said that fire was human-caused, which is disconcerting given citywide and territory-wide fire bans are in effect.

With high-school graduation parties and other summer gatherings taking place, Maratos said he hopes partiers do not light any bonfires.

"We're just asking that they do abide by the ban, because it is in there for a reason," he said.

"You can't prevent lightning-caused starts, but you can prevent human-caused starts. So if the public could abide, that would be much appreciated."

Twenty-four Alberta firefighters came to the Yukon earlier this week to provide support, mainly on the Minto Landing fire. Maratos said that is the earliest the Yukon has ever asked outside fire crews for help.

Risk also high in N.W.T.

The neighbouring Northwest Territories is also reporting high to extreme wildfire risks in all regions this week. The weather is not normally this hot or dry until much later in the season, officials with the N.W.T. Environment Department stated in a release Tuesday.

With the forest expected to be very dry for the next few weeks, officials warn that an unattended campfire or even a cigarette butt left burning on the ground could start a forest fire.

Five wildfires have been reported in the N.W.T. so far this season, burning just under five hectares of forest. Three of the fires have been extinguished, while the other two are under control.