Tthets’éhk’edélî (Jean Marie River First Nation) remains under an evacuation alert due to a fire about 24 km northwest of Jean-Marie River and 23km southeast of Fort Simpson.
Evacuation alerts have completed and are potentially under way in other parts of the territories. The evacuation of Rae Rock Mine staff was completed today as a precautionary measure, following recommendations by Fire and GNWT officials. As a wildfire near Campbell Lake merged with a fire located about 3 km east of Watta Lake, crews continue an active response while some area residents have been alerted of a possible evacuation.
Hwy 6 in the South Slave region was reclosed earlier today due to wildfire and smoke. Later this evening, a portion of Hwy 8 near the NWT / Yukon border was also closed due to a wildfire on the Yukon side of the border.
DEHCHO REGION
In the Dehcho region, Tthets’éhk’edélî (Jean Marie River First Nation) issued an evacuation alert earlier today following a recommendation by NWT Fire due to a fire (FS014) about 24 km northwest of Jean-Marie River and 23km southeast of Fort Simpson.
“Residents of Jean-Marie River have received an evacuation alert, as wildfire crews and airtankers continue work to contain it and minimize growth toward the community,” said NWT Fire.
Jean-Marie River First Nation officials and NWT Fire are cautioning community members to be prepared to evacuate on short notice
“Residents of Jean Marie River should be ready to evacuate on short notice due to a wildfire in the area. This is currently an alert to prepare. If you need to evacuate, an order will be issued with further information,” said officials in a post on social media today.
Jean-Marie River First Nation officials and NWT Fire are asking community members to go to GNWT’s Public Safety webpage , the GNWT Fire Map and to check with the Band Office regarding any questions about the alert.
“In addition, check Facebook regularly (this Facebook page) and stay in communication with the Band Office, for updates,” said Jean Marie River FN officials.
“We are working on getting the radio station up and running, so keep your radios on as well, please. We will do our best to provide notices, but we ask that everyone plays their part in helping to stay informed as well,” added Jean Marie River FN representatives.
About 18 km northeast of Sambaa K’e, Fire crews continue an active response to protect area structures from a wildfire (FS018) first spotted on July 1.
“This lightning caused fire is approximately 40 hectares in size. There are cabins in the area that crews are working to protect. There are no threats to the community of Sambaa K’e or infrastructure in the area at this time,” assured NWT Fire.
Fire crews from the Yukon joined NWT Fire crews earlier last week to contain the number of fires (FS002, FS006 and FS009) in the Liard Complex.
There are no immediate threats to communities or infrastructure, assured officials.
About 19 km northeast of Sambaa K’e, a wildfire (FS018) is now considered as being held.
About 6 km south of Sambaa K’e, another fire (FS019) is now considered as being held.
NORTH SLAVE REGION
In the North Slave region, an evacuation of Rae Rock Mine staff was completed today as a precautionary measure. A number of wildfires continue to receive an active response by firefighters and some area lodges near Campbell Lake are under alert of a potential evacuation. A new wildfire was spotted near Hidden Lake.
A wildfire located about 15 km east of Rae Rock Mine (ZF013) is also being actively actioned on with an evacuation order enacted as recommended by NWT Fire and GNWT’s Environment and Climate Change team.
“Staff at Rae Rock Mine evacuated from the area as a precaution due to possible strong winds that may smoke out the area,” NWT Fire confirmed.
Dawn Keim, acting senior manager of the contaminants and remediation division of Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, confirmed that at about 3 p.m., Rayrock site personnel began evacuating as a precautionary response.
Earlier today, the Rayrock Project team said that evacuations of the 36 personnel to Yellowknife are safely underway.
“The Kwetįįɂaà (Rayrock) Project team can confirm that evacuations of the 36 personnel to Yellowknife are safely underway, in accordance with the Project’s Emergency Management and Fire Protection Plan. These began on Saturday evening and continued on Sunday, with essential personnel remaining on-site to action shut-down procedures,” said Keim.
“The Project team has suspended work at Rayrock until it is safe to return to the site. The Project does not anticipate any impacts to the environment as a result of the suspension of activities. The Project team is working closely with NWT Fire to monitor the situation,” said Keim.
The evacuation came after Fire and ECC’s recommendations due to a wildfire, located about 15 km east of Rae Rock Mine (ZF013) is being actively actioned on with an evacuation order recommended by NWT Fire and GNWT’s Environment and Climate Change team.
“ECC has recommended staff at Rae Rock Mine consider an evacuation as a precaution due to possible strong winds. The site is accessible by float plane only and the smoke in the area may pose a risk for planes to move a lot of people out in the future,” said NWT Fire.
This morning a representative from NWT Fire told True North FM that ECC’s recommendation was supported by Fire officials.
A wildfire in the North Slave region near Campbell Lake (ZF024) has merged with a fire located about 3 km east of Watta Lake (ZF011). As crews mobilize an active response to the fire, some area residents have been alerted.
“This fire has merged with ZF011 and lodges in the area have been alerted that they may be required to evacuate. Wildfire crews are maintaining sprinklers and retardant lines to protect nearby structures,” said NWT Fire.
Yesterday, the wildfire (ZF024) near the south end of Campbell Lake was assessed at approximately 1500 hectares and crews reported that three nearby lodges were under threat.
Firefighters have continued to make steady progress on a wildfire (ZF009) located about 8 km southeast of the NICO Cobalt Mine.
“This fire is now considered as being held, but crews continue to action it,” NWT Fire noted.
Yesterday, crews reported that the fire was 75 per cent contained.
A group of wildfires (ZF014,015,016,017) located about 212-km 169 of Highway 3 are being monitored by Fire crews.
“Under southerly to southwesterly winds, we expect the fires to grow north and east. Wildfire crews are monitoring for any nearby cabins and are setting up structure protections, prioritizing based on threat,” cautioned officials.
A new fire was spotted near Hidden Lake and firefighters are actively responding to the fire which is one hectare in size at the last assessment.
BEAUFORT DELTA REGION
Two new fires were spotted in the Beaufort Delta region today.
One new fire (EV026-25) was spotted about 146 km southwest of Paulatuk.
“This fire is 1 hectare in size and no communities, cabins, or infrastructure are at risk. It is being monitored,” said officials.
Another new fire (EV025-25) was seen about 18 km east of highway 8 and 27km northeast of Tsiigehtchic.
“This fire is 5 hectares in size and no communities, cabins, or infrastructure are at risk. It is being monitored,” said NWT Fire.
Another fire located about 20 km southwest of Fort McPherson (EV019-25) is highly visible from the Dempster Highway.
“(The fire) is 112 hectares in size and crews are monitoring it,” said officials.
Crews assured that there are no threats to the community of Fort McPherson, highway access, or cabins in the area at this time.
Officials said that anyone who would like more information on this fire can contact the wildfire info line at 867-445-5484.
NWT Fire asks that people refrain from calling their local base, which has been overwhelmed by questions and requests for information connected to this fire.
Crews are also responding two more wildfires, located about 33 km east of Inuvik ( EV016-25) and (EV017-25) about 37 km east of Inuvik, which have merged.
“(The wildfire) is now about 1400 hectares in size. 802s are currently working on the south side of the fire. There are no threats to the community or other values at this time.,” said officials.
About 15 km southwest of Fort McPherson, another wildfire (EV021-25 ) is 152 hectares in size.
“Due to safety concerns with the terrain, wildfire crews are not working directly on it at the moment, but are monitoring the fire, the highway nearby and any values at risk north of the fire. People may see smoke around Fort McPherson and along the highway,” cautioned NWT Fire
Officials advised residents to be aware fo smoke in the area and to keep updated through the territorial drive advisories webpages https://drivenwt.ca.
SOUTH SLAVE REGION
In the South Slave region, a fire reported yesterday (SS013), located about 6 km south of Hwy 6 and about 7.5 km north-northeast of Hwy 5 has grown from about 30 hectares to 345 hectares in size.
“Strong winds are predicted for this coming week, so crews, 2 helicopters, air tankers and heavy equipment operators are working hard prevent the fire from getting closer to highway 6,” said Fire crews.
Officials advised residents to be aware of smoke in the area and to keep updated through the territorial drive advisories webpages https://drivenwt.ca.
This afternoon, Infrastructure NWT reclosed Hwy 6 due to the wildfire and smoke conditions.
Earlier today officials cautioned drivers to take extra care around Hwy 6 because of poor visibility and to expect delays along Hwy 6, especially from the Junction to Fort Smith.
NWT Fire urges residents to be mindful of campfires and ensure that any fires are fully extinguished.
“Human-caused fires can pull resources from other fires as they are often closest to the things we care about. ALWAYS SOAK-STIR-SOAK your campfire!,” urged Fire officials.
Currently, the city of Yellowknife and the town of Hay River, along with a number of other communities in NWT remain under a fire ban.
