Fort Providence has issued an Evacuation Order after strong winds swept the fire towards the community. The wildfire has crossed the highway. Area residents are being advised to evacuate immediately by local authorities and NWT Fire officials.
The Evacuation order was called at about 9 a.m. this morning by GNWT officials and NWT Fire Crews.
“This wildfire grew significantly overnight driven by severe northerly winds.
It is now within 2km north of Fort Providence.
Forecast today calls for winds primarily from the south until the evening, when it switches northerly – which could push the fire to the community’s edge today.
Structure protection specialists in the community have set up sprinklers and water cannons on all structures along the northern perimeter of the community to mitigate potential losses.
Please follow public safety updates for the latest on evacuations: https://www.gov.nt.ca/…/publi…/notices-alerts-and-orders
We will update as the wildfire situation changes throughout the day,” said officials this morning.
Community officials also advised that updates from the Hamlet of Fort Providence will be put on Facebook on the Fort Providence Announcements & Events page
Last night, Mayor Danny Beaulieu advised that for anyone who does not have a place to stay, the town of Hay River is setting up an evacuation centre in their Recreation Centre.
The mayor also advised that a bus will be available for residents who do not have transportation. The bus is departing from the Arena.
Residents can register their household (including members residing under your application) at the Host community. Officials ask residents to label belongings and to monitor children.
For the latest updates on the bus transportation and times, residents can check the Fort Providence Announcements & Events page on Facebook.
GNWT’s department of Infrastructure reported that Hwy 3 is closed between the junction of Hwy 9 to Whati and the junction of Hwy 1 (south of Fort Providence).
For those evacuating from Fort Providence, the highway is open to southbound traffic and the Deh Cho Bridge is open to 2 lanes. Hwy 9 to Whati continues to be closed to northbound traffic. Officials are advising travellers to drive cautiously.
Preparations are being put in place and residents are encouraged to fill in an evacuation registration form. The form is accessible online on the GNWT site at www.gov.nt.ca/en/form/evac
The GNWT provides financial support to help evacuees with immediate costs for expenses like gasoline, groceries and accommodations through the emergency evacuation relief program. All evacuees who live in Fort Providence are eligible. Anyone who would like to receive support from this program is required to register as an evacuee.
The town of Hay River is welcoming Evacuees and offering support, including accommodations and food.
“A reception centre staffed by the Town of Hay River and Hay River Health and Social Services is setup at the Hay River Community Centre. Basic accommodation, food, recreation, programming, and fire information services will be provided at the Community Centre,” said officials.
Evacuees can contact the Hay River Community Centre’s Reception Centre at 867-874-6522.
Evacuees of Fort Providence who have found themselves stranded in Yellowknife are recommended to register at the evacuation centre in Yellowknife, located at the Yellowknife Fieldhouse.
Community officials advised that the Hay River Thrift Store volunteers will be at the store from noon to 4 p.m. today to provide necessities or clothing needed to evacuees. The Rooster in Hay River is also giving out free coffee and slushies to evacuees.
Mike Westwick told True North FM that the fire remains about 2 km north of Fort Providence.
NWT Fire are actioning an aggressive response to the wildfire, which includes five crews, two intermediate helicopters, seven dozers, two mulchers, and seven fire trucks led by an incident management team and structure protection specialists.
Fire weather conditions are expected to continue in the area.
“Winds are expected primarily from the south until late afternoon to early evening, when it is expected to switch northerly,” said officials earlier today.
At 6 p.m. NWT Fire issued an update that the wind shift from southerly to northerly has occurred, which could put the community at risk.
Low relative humidity is expected with winds gusting up to 18 km per hour by this afternoon and 30 km per hour by this evening.
“Cooler temperatures are expected by Sunday evening and into Monday,” said NWT Fire.
“The community of Fort Providence is at threat due to this wildfire. It has not reached the community as of this update,” said crews.
Since yesterday evening, the fire spread 10 km towards Fort Providence, swept aggressively by “extreme northerly winds”
The community of Fort Providence remains under an Evacuation Order. NWT confirmed that community members are making their way to Hay River.
An Incident Management Team has been on scene coordinating action on this wildfire.
At this time direct attack is unsafe and ineffective because of the extent of the fire front, said crews.
Aircraft crews are actioning the wildfire via air, making water drops to reduce the fire’s intensity when conditions allow. Visibility issues due to smoke have made most aerial firefighting unsafe, said Wildland crews.
Structure protection specialists are in the community and have installed sprinklers and water cannons to protect at-risk structures along the northern border of the community to help prevent potential losses.
“Heavy equipment is working to strengthen the fuel break at north of the community to reduce wildfire intensity if the wildfire approaches,” said crews.
Wildland teams are looking at defensive ignition strategies to help block the fire’s potential to spread further. Crews are attempting to widen the fuel break as the anchor.
Officials said that there are no losses of homes at this time.
