The cause of most of the fires has been lightning. And lightning has become much more common in the Y-K Delta over recent years.
"St. Mary's fire"
Vulnerable residents flown out of St. Mary’s as major tundra fire closes in
Yute Commuter Services sent all of its planes to St. Mary’s to evacuate residents, and about 60 people arrived in Bethel on Thursday night.
A large tundra fire is burning 12 miles away from St. Mary’s
The fire is now estimated at 30,000 acres and is just 12 miles from the village.