Connor Pitre

Liidlii Kue and Fort Simpson community officials say while winds are working in favour of wildfire response, FS016 remains active around the Wildrose and Nogha Heights area, especially behind the subdivisions. Community officials say they are working on plans to shuttle community members and non-emergency personnel who remain behind to Yellowknife. Hundreds of community members have evacuated Liidlii Kue First Nation and Fort Simpson following evacuation orders issued June 28 due to FS016.

Swimming restrictions at the main beach area of Fred Henne Territorial Park have been lifted as of Saturday. Territorial officials say follow-up testing now shows levels of bacteria within health guidelines. On July 2, a pubic advisory was issued restricting swimming and water use, as a precautionary measure after elevated levels of bacteria were detected, including E-coli. 

“Highway 1 is now open to traffic but only to south bound headed vehicles,” read a message from the village of Fort Simpson’s Command team Saturday afternoon after Friday's shelter-in-place order was lifted. Wildland and community officials are closely monitoring what they say is a "dynamic situation" with a potential wind shift anticipated.

Environmental groups and coastal First Nations say a major economic agreement announced this week between British Columbia and the federal government protects the North Coast tanker ban, but leaves new concerns about a possible southern oil pipeline route.

The Village of Fort Simpson reported that at approximately 7:00 pm last night wildfire FS016, which caused the evacuation order for the community earlier this week, burned around the tank farm at the Wrigley turnoff.