Tthets’éhk’edélî (Jean Marie River First Nation) remains under an evacuation alert. As number fires continued to expand in NWT today, and four new fires were spotted over the last 24 hours. Some residents in the North Slave region were evacuated overnight as a precaution.
Fire officials caution that “extremely challenging weather” is expected tomorrow including high winds in areas across the territory that could cause fires to spread “significantly.”
DEHCHO REGION
In the Dehcho region, Tthets’éhk’edélî (Jean Marie River First Nation) remains under an evacuation alert 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). Three new fires were spotted in the region, while a number of fires continued to expand and one fire is now considered under control.
“As residents of Jean-Marie River have received an evacuation alert, ECC expects high fire activity to come. 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
https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/public-safety the GNWT Fire Map
https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/services/wildfire-update/en/firedata 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.
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.
“This fire is being hit hard with air tankers,” said officials.
There are no immediate threats to communities or infrastructure, assured officials.
Firefighters are combating another fire 19 km northeast of Sambaa K’e (FS018).
“Fire crews are working on containing the west flank and the fire continues to need tanker action to limit growth,” said officials.
About 6 km south of Sambaa K’e, one fire ( FS019 ) is now considered as being held.
“This naturally caused fire is less than 1 hectare in size and is considered as being held. Wildfire crews as well as 802s are working on containing the fire and bucketed it yesterday,” said crews.
A fire located about 18km northeast of Wrigley (FS007) is now considered to be out of control, said officials.
A new fire (FS021) is located about 85 km from Fort Simpson and 120 km from Fort Liard.
“This naturally caused fire is 32 hectares and is currently being monitored. No structures or communities are at risk,” said officials.
Another new wildfire is located about 33 km north of Wrigley (FS022) and is about 190 hectares in size. Crews said the fire is being monitored.
About 6 km southeast of Nahanni Butte, a third new wildfire (FS023) has been spotted.
“A crew and two air tankers are done an initial attack on the fire. It is 1 hectare in size,” said NWT Fire.
NORTH SLAVE REGION
A wildfire in the North Slave region near Campbell Lake (ZF024) that merged with a fire located about 3 km east of Watta Lake (ZF011).
Firefighters continue to combat the fire.
“This fire has merged with ZF011 and lodges in the area have been alerted that they may be required to evacuate,” said officials.
Some area residents were given notice last night.
“Owners of Hearne Lake evacuated last night as a precaution, but the fire moved east about 3.5 km from the lodge,” said NWT Fire.
Wildfire crews have set up sprinklers and retardant lines to protect nearby structures.
Another wildfire, located about 15 km east of Rae Rock Mine (ZF013) is about 4,000 Hectares in size.
“Crews have recommended setting up fire protections around nearby structures, as they prepare for Northwest winds expected this week,” said officials.
“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 yesterday.
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. Monday, Rayrock site personnel began evacuating as a precautionary response.
Yesterday, 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.
Firefighters have declared the wildfire (ZF009) located about 8 km southeast of the NICO Cobalt Mine as being held, but crews continue take an active response to it.
Crews cautioned that they expect a group of wildfires (ZF014,015,016,017) located about 212-km 169 of Highway 3 to expand.
“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,” said Fire officials.
BEAUFORT DELTA REGION
A number of fires in the Beaufort Delta region have expanded in size.
Another fire located about 20 km southwest of Fort McPherson (EV019-25) remains clearly visible from the Dempster Highway and is about 112 hectares in size.
Crews assured assured 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 to another wildfire, located about 33 km east of Inuvik (EV017-25).
This fire is about 3833 hectares in size. Two crews 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 ) has grown from 152 to 1240 hectares in size.
Two crews will be assessing the fire to see how best to attack it after a few days of monitoring the fire and any values around it,” said officials.
“People may see smoke around Fort McPherson and along the highway,” advised crews.
Road conditions and closures updates are available 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 345 hectares to 1300 hectares in size.
“Strong winds are predicted for this coming week, so crews, 2 helicopters and heavy equipment operators are working hard to contain the fire within its current perimeter.,” said officials.
Officials advised residents to be aware of smoke in the area and to keep updated through the territorial drive advisories webpages https://drivenwt.ca.
About 30 km north-west of Fort Providence, a fourth new wildfire is burning (SS014).
“Crews are setting up structure protections on a nearby cabin as a precaution. There is currently no threat to Fort Providence,” advised officials.
Officials cautioned that the territories remain in drought, which means fire can travel quickly.
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.
