Firefighters continue to battle multiple blazes across the N.W.T. amid fire weather conditions.
Crews warn that heat and dry conditions persist across much of the territories, heightening the risks of wildfires, dry lightning and severe storms, especially for the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions.
“Fire weather advisories are in place for several areas, and conditions can change quickly,” warned officials.
Tthets’éhk’edélî (Jean Marie River First Nation) continues to be on an evacuation notice. The band office and NWT Fire issued an evacuation alert about one week ago, due to a fire that is located about 24 km northwest of Jean-Marie River and about 23 km southeast of Fort Simpson.
Jean Marie River First Nation officials urged the community to keep informed and prepared in case conditions change. Jean Marie River FN officials have also asked community members to check the band’s Facebook site regularly.
Updates are also available on GNWT’s Public Safety webpage and the GNWT Fire Map.
On Sunday, NWT Fire reported that Jean Marie River First Nation is no longer considered at risk, but crews are persisting in their response to the wildfire.
Today, officials continued to mobilize a response to the fire to prevent its spread. Firefighters said that there is no threat to communities at this time.
On Monday, crews on the ground were assisted by three helicopters, working to keep the fire from spreading. The Evacuation Notice remains active on the community’s Facebook page today.
𝗗𝗘𝗛𝗖𝗛𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡
In the Dehcho region, while a wildfire near Sambaa K’e is now under control, a fire complex near Fort Liard continues to pose a challenge amid hot, dry conditions in the region.
Crews from the Yukon joined NWT Fire crews last week to battle a string of wildfires (FS002, FS006 and FS009) near Fort Liard. Today they continued an organized response to the wildfire to stop its spread toward the community of Fort Liard.
“Fire crews are continuing to work hard on this fire. They’re focused on protecting structures at Bovie Lake, around the community, and along the highway. At this time, there is no immediate threat to the community or other infrastructure,” said NWT Fire today.
Over the past few days, five fire crews have worked diligently to activate a response to this fire.
On Sunday, multiple crews responded to the wildfire complex. Last week, airtankers dropped water and fire retardant on the fire and four fire crews battled the fire, along with two medium helicopters and one smaller one. Airtankers focused on the west side of the fire, north of Hook Lake.
The wildfire located about 19 km northeast of Sambaa K’e (FS018) is under control as of yesterday.
“Crews are creating a firebreak 50 feet inside the fire’s edge and carefully checking for and putting out hot spots,” said NWT Fire today.
Yesterday, the fire continued being held as crews worked to call it under control. Sunday, officials organized a response via land, air and water. Two fire crews and a fire technician responded on the east side of the fire. Because of poor visibility near Fort Liard, crews also approached by boat.
Crews resumed their response to another fire located about 6 km southeast of Nahanni Butte, first spotted about one week ago.
“The fire is still being held. Crews are working around the edges of the fire to make sure it doesn’t spread any further. There is no threat to the community,” said NWT Fire today.
About one week ago, a crew and two air tankers activated the initial response and by Friday, crews reported the fire was about 70 per cent held.
The fire has kept held at about 1 hectare in size since Saturday.
Areas of a fire located about 18km northeast of Wrigley (FS007) are seeing activity.
“The fire remains active to the southeast. Crews are closely monitoring the situation, and there is currently no threat to the community,” said NWT Fire today.
Yesterday, officials saw fire activity on the southeast corner. Smoke caused poor visibility in the Fort Simpson area, making it difficult to scan the area.
NORTH SLAVE REGION
In the North Slave region, the wildfire located near Hwy 3 showed heightened fire activity again today. The wildfire near Campbell Lake and east of Hearne Lake (F024-25) remains about 14,794 hectares in size, as crews continu to mobilize a strategic response to prevent its spread.
Firefighters are activating a response and setting up protections.
“Crews have set up and are running sprinklers around nearby lodges. They are planning ignition work and mop-up operations to manage the fire safely. Crews continue to monitor the area closely for any potential risk to lodges or cabins,” said NWT today.
Sunday, crews focused on certain areas of the fire to prevent its spread. On Saturday, firefighters mopped up around the cabin and monitored the sprinkler and the fire retardant lines in place to protect nearby buildings. Crews reported that the fire “burned up” earlier this week and stopped at the sprinkler line.
A wildfire located about 3 km west of Hwy 3 (ZF015-25) has seen heightened fire activity in the past two days.
“There has been significant fire activity in this area. Fire crews are working to protect cabins and property along the highway, focusing on extinguishing hot spots and closely monitoring the fire. Airtankers have been used to drop retardant around cabins to help create a barrier and keep the fire away. Crew is also maintaining regular communication with cabin owners to keep them informed,” said NWT Fire today.
Yesterday, crews were also occupied putting out hot spots and closely monitoring the blaze.
BEAUFORT DELTA REGION
The Beaufort Delta region is seeing increased fire activity due to heat and dry conditions.
The wildfire (EV021-25) located about 15 km southwest of Fort McPherson, remains about 2,475 hectares in size.
Yesterday, crews worked on the southwest and southeast sides of the fire.
Monday, officials reported that the fire was getting hotter and helicopters and crews were mobilizing a response. Last weekend, firefighters cleared an area to prevent the fire’s expansion, responded to small flare-ups and used helicopters to drop water on the fire.
Officials assured that the blaze does not pose a risk to the community at this time. They warn that there may be smoke visible near Fort McPherson and along the highway. Road conditions and closures updates are available through the territorial drive advisories webpages at Drive NWT.
Officials carried on with an active response to a fire located about 33 km east of Inuvik (EV017-25).
“Crews continue to work on hot spots along the western edge of the fire. There is no threat to the community,” said NWT Fire today.
The wildfire persists at about 6,055 hectares in size. Monday night there was a flare-up in the southwest corner and crews were able to put it out. Sunday, crews worked on two hot spots on the west side of the fire, with help from two helicopters dropping water.
SOUTH SLAVE REGION
A fire that was spotted on Tuesday (SS013), located about 6 km south of Hwy 6 and about 7.5 km north-northeast of Hwy 5 remains about 1,598 hectares in size and continues to be 95 per cent contained.
On Sunday, officials reported one problem area in the southeast corner that they were working on.Last week, officials reported good progress. Friday, two helicopters assisted with bucketing and crew/equipment moves. Saturday, crews brought bulldozers up to the wildfire but reported some problem spots, which crews responded with the help of equipment.
A fire located about 30 km northwest of Fort Providence is about 80 hectares in size.
“A crew was sent to start the sprinklers on a near-by cabin and to do an assessment of the fire. There is no threat to Fort Providence,” said NWT Fire.
SAHTU
In the Sahtu region, one new lightning-caused wildfire was spotted near Colville Lake yesterday and remains about 487 hectares in size and is being monitored. There is no threat to the community at this time, said officials.
Two lightning-caused fires were spotted on Monday, also located near Colville Lake. One, about 38 km southwest of the town (VQ023) and another is located about 128 km northeast of the town (VQ024).
Both fires were monitored again today and are not considered a threat to the community at this time.
Today, two more lightning-caused fires were reported new Fort Good Hope. One is about 140 hectares in size and is being monitored. There is no threat to the community at this time. Another is about 100km northwest of Fort Good Hope and is about 130 hectares in size and is being monitored. The fire poses no threat to any community at this time.
Monday, two more fires were spotted near Fort Good Hope, about 107 km southeast of the town (VQ020) and another about 104 km northwest (VQ022). Bother fires were monitored again today. Officials said they pose no threat to the community at this time.
The town of Hay River re-implemented a full fire ban this week, along with a number of other communities in the N.W.T.
NWT Fire are warning that the challenging weather conditions of heat and heavy winds are posing a risk of fires spreading quickly.
Officials cautioned residents to be mindful of campfires and to take extra care to be sure fires are fully extinguished.
Crews are cautioning the public to avoid certain activities.
“Stay alert, avoid open burning, and use extra caution when out on the land,” said NWT Fire.
