In a special council meeting held on August 8th, 2023, Yellowknife City Council discussed the distribution of funds and the planning of an emergency scenario during the ongoing wildfire situation outside the city.
City Manager Sheila Bassi-Kellet spoke on several key issues concerning Yellowknifers, including the city’s approach to slow any wildfire growth towards the capital.
“We are at this point looking to take precautionary measures,” Bassi-Kellet says. “ECC wildfire experts have informed us and confirmed for us that the next 4-6 weeks are going to be just as dry and windy, and therefore still maintain a high fire hazard well into the fall,” she adds.
The City of Yellowknife recently began taking precautionary measures within municipal limits, and Bassi-Kellet says the breaks in the sandpits are part of the first set of a three-step approach to protect the city.
“What we’re looking at doing is setting up primary, secondary, and tertiary areas for fire breaks,” she says. “We’re also looking at doing site-specific fire smarting as needed, and we are installing water sprinklers in key areas where there could be some vulnerability,” Bassi-Kellet adds.
According to the City, the priority areas for firebreaks include the Bush Trail west of the sandpits, followed by the establishment of a perimeter around the Engle Business District, and finishing around sewage lagoon road.
Bassi-Kellet adds that other priority areas have been established for sprinklers, including areas around Grace Lake, and Kam Lake properties on the edge of the city.
The City of Yellowknife did not provide an exact cost of the operations to take place; however, the plan was approved unanimously by councillors.
