Crews combated nearly 15 out-of-control fires across the territories and two new starts under challenging weather conditions, including storms with winds gusting up to 50 km per hour, causing some fires to spread significantly.
Tthets’ek’ehdeli Got’ie (Jean Marie River First Nation) remains under an evacuation alert. Dana Bowen, an NWT Fire information officer, reports that structure protections were installed at the north end of the community.
An evacuation alert began on Monday following a recommendation by NWT Fire due to a fire (FS014) which is currently just over 20 km northwest of Jean-Marie River.
Smokey conditions along Hwy 3 and Hwy 6 have been reported and a portion of Hwy 8 near the NWT/Yukon border was closed and later reopened this afternoon due to wildfires.
Fire officials caution that “extremely challenging weather” is expected again tomorrow, including high winds in areas across the territory that could cause fires to grow significantly.
DEHCHO REGION
In the Dehcho region, Tthets’ek’ehdeli Got’ie (Jean Marie River First Nation) continues to keep watch under an evacuation alert due to a fire (FS014), just over 20 km northwest of Jean-Marie River.
Firefighters are expecting heightened fire activity, especially under the current weather conditions, which include heavy winds.
Crews and airtankers are mobilizing a response to contain the wildfire and prevent its spread toward the community. Jean-Marie River First Nation officials and Fire crews 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.
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.
Jean Marie River FN officials are also asking community members to check the band’s facebook site regularly and to keep their radios on.
Fire crews from the Yukon joined NWT Fire crews earlier last week to contain a string of wildfires (FS002, FS006 and FS009) in the Liard Complex.
Officials reported that the fire poses no immediate threats to communities or infrastructure.
Firefighters are combating another fire 19 km northeast of Sambaa K’e (FS018).
“Fire crews and two airplanes are working on containing the west flank and the fire continues to need tanker action to limit growth,” said NWT Fire.
About 6 km south of Sambaa K’e, one fire ( FS019 ) is now out.
A fire located about 18km northeast of Wrigley (FS007) is considered to be out of control.
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 wildfire (FS023) that was spotted yesterday is being held at 1 hectare. Yesterday, a crew and two air tankers activated the initial response.
NORTH SLAVE REGION
Earlier this week, a wildfire in the North Slave region near Campbell Lake (ZF024) merged with a fire located about 3 km east of Watta Lake (ZF011. Firefighters continued to combat the fire today.
“The fire near a cabin on Campbell Lake burned up to and stopped at the sprinkler line and crews are mopping up around the cabin. Wildfire crews are maintaining sprinklers and retardant lines to protect nearby structures. Rain forecasted for this week is expected to help,” said officials.
The wildfire located about 15 km east of Rae Rock Mine (ZF013) has grown from about 4,000 hectares in size to about 32,000 hectares.
“(The fire) is currently about 8 km from the Snare Hydro Camp. The NTPC team has been advised to set up and run sprinklers at the camp. A wildfire crew is on site and will assist with operating the sprinklers if it’s safe to do so,” 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 Monday.
Dawn Keim, acting senior manager of the contaminants and remediation division of Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, confirmed Rayrock site personnel had begun evacuating on Saturday evening as a precautionary response.
Yesterday, officials declared the wildfire (ZF009) located about 8 km southeast of the NICO Cobalt Mine as being held.
Firefighters cautioned that they expect a group of wildfires (ZF014,015,016,017) located about 212 km 169 of Highway 3 will continue to spread.
Officials said they continue to expect the fires to expand north and east due to heavy winds.
“Wildfire crews are monitoring for any nearby cabins and are setting up structure protections, prioritizing based on threat,” assured Fire officials.
The fire on Hidden Lake is considered under control.
BEAUFORT DELTA REGION
A fire located about 20 km southwest of Fort McPherson (EV019-25) remains clearly visible from the Dempster Highway and remains about 112 hectares in size.
Crews are continuing to monitor the fire and 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. They also asked that the public refrain from calling their local base regarding this wildfire, which has been overwhelmed by questions and requests for information connected to this fire.
Firefighters continue to battle the wildfire, located about 33 km east of Inuvik (EV017-25).
The fire has grown from about 3833 hectares in size to 6055 hectares. Two crews continue activation a response along the south side of the fire.
Officials assured there are no threats to the community or other values at this time.
This wildfire is 1,240 hectares. 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. People may see smoke around Fort McPherson and along the highway.
About 15 km southwest of Fort McPherson, another wildfire (EV021-25 ) remains about 1240 hectares in size.
Two crews are continuing to assess the fire and to decide the best strategies to approach and continue an active response following close monitoring of the fire and the values around it.
“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 continues to measure about 1300 hectares in size.
Because of strong winds predicted again today, crews, two helicopters and heavy equipment operators continued an activated response to contain the fire within its current perimeter.
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 being actioned on by Fire crews (SS014) who have set up structure protections on a nearby cabin as a precaution.
“There is currently no threat to Fort Providence,” assured NWT Fire.
SAHTU
Two new fires were spotted today in the Sahtu region.
One fire was reported about 60 km north of Délı̨nę (VQ018).
“This lightning caused fire is approximately 35 km southwest of any structures. It’s being monitored and there are no threats to communities at this time,” said officials.
Another wildfire was spotted about 125 km east-southeast of Colville Lake (VQ019)
“This lightning caused fire is approximately 75 km north of any structures. It’s being monitored and there are no threats to communities at this time,” said Fire crews.
NWT Fire are warning that the territories remain in drought, posing a risk of fire to be able to travel quickly.
Fire officials urge residents to be mindful of campfires and to take extra care to be sure 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!,” warned NWT Fire.
The city of Yellowknife and the town of Hay River, along with a number of other communities in territories, remain under a fire ban.
