Despite challenging fire weather conditions including extreme heat and heavy winds, crews were able to maintain the fire lines, preventing the spread of fire to communities including Jean Marie River First Nation and Fort Simpson.
Crews are working against fire activity that has increased due to extreme heat especially in southern regions of the territories including the Dehcho where Jean Marie River First Nation remains under an evacuation alert.
Multi-front work continued today on a fire (FS014-25) that persists within about 14 km from Tthets’éhk’edélî (Jean Marie First Nation).
Dana Bowen, a fire information officer with NWT Fire, said the wildfire had moved slightly further away from Jean Marie River First Nation and Fort Simpson.
“That fire has moved because there’s been winds going from the south to the southwest. It has moved the fire closer to Mackenzie River and a bit further away from Jean Marie River First Nation and Fort Simpson. There’s no threats to structures around there or Fort Simpson or the Ferry Landing,” Bowen told True North FM.
“There is no threat to Fort Simpson or the ferry landing at this time,” said officials. Jean Marie River First Nation remains under an evacuation alert.
Mike Westwick, a fire information officer with NWT Fire, told True North FM that all regions are expected to experience a sharp increase in fire danger. Westwick said the fire danger risks will continue through the week with temperatures rising in the South Slave and Dehcho and far above seasonal temperatures in the North Slave, Beaufort Delta, and Sahtú.
“We could really see some pretty extreme temperatures approaching 30 degrees and winds mostly from the south. Specifically fires that folks will see be much more activity in the next couple of days is that fire (ZF015-25) along Hwy 3,” said Westwick.
“We saw that fire’s behaviour begin to pick up yesterday, for sure. And it’s going to pick up a lot more throughout the week,” he added.
Smoke from wildfires continued to cause visibility and poor air quality conditions throughout the NWT today, particularly in the North Slave region including Wekweeti, Whati and Behchokǫ̀ along with Fort Providence, Kakisa, Chan Lake, Fort Simpson Jean Marie River First Nation and the Lutsel K’e region.
Environment Canada has issued air quality advisories due smoke from wildfires affecting the North Slave region including Wekweeti, Whati and Behchokǫ̀ along with
Fort Providence, Kakisa, Chan Lake, Fort Simpson Jean Marie River First Nation and the Lutsel K’e region
Yesterday NWT Fire issued a fire weather advisory, warning of increasing temperatures, drying, winds and lightening in the next few days. Today Environment Canada issued a heat advisory for Hay River, Enterprise, Fort Smith, Wrigley, Wood Buffalo National Park in Fort Chipewyan, Fort Liard, Samba K’aa, Fort Providence, Kakiza, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River First Nation are among affected communities.
DEHCHO
The wildfires of the Fort Liard complex continue to be priority for firefighters. According to the last reported measure of it’s closest points, the FS014-25 fire remains about 14 km from Jean Marie River First Nation. This fire is about 21 km east on the far side of the Liard River, 27 km southeast (its most active edge) from the town of Fort Simpson.
“Fire crews did a great job pulling off the ignition operation to the south of the fire front of FS014 and are working to maintain the fire line. The fire has moved away from the communities of Jean Marie River and Fort Simpson. There is no threat to Fort Simpson or the ferry landing at this time,” said NWT Fire today.
The fire has expanded west, driven by Monday’s winds to the east, said officials.
“Airtankers have completed work connecting natural, fuel-free barriers using fire retardant to the south of the fire to create a containment line to prevent southward growth,” said NWT Fire today.
Crews have put in place structure protections and are cleaning up around the fire lines today to ensure it holds.
“A structure protection trailer and team, including both wildfire personnel and members of Fort Simpson and Fort Smith’s fire departments, have been mobilized to the community,” said NWT Fire.
Helicopters continued with bucket drops to hit hotspots and reduce fire intensity.
The fire’s proximity to the community of Jean Marie River First Nation remains a concern, said NWT Fire. With the community on an Evacuation Alert, Westwick advised community members to keep vehicles full of fuel and have any important belongings prepared and packed to go.
Westwick emphasized that community members should keep updated with the latest information about the fire by check the community’s social media pages and visiting NWTFire.com’s facebook and website.
Jean Marie River First Nation officials urged the community to keep informed and prepared in case conditions change.
Officials advised community members to check the community Facebook Page, to listen to the radio station 101.9 and to check community information boards for updates.
Updates are also available on GNWT’s Alert pages webpage and the GNWT Fire Map.
NWT Fire assured that the village of Fort Simpson is not currently at threat due to the wildfire.
The fire (FS009), located east of Fort Liard, again showed “very little” activity today. Crews said that this week they expect to see activity pick up as temperatures continue to sit between 25-30 degrees. Firefighters continued with maintaining structure protection at Bovie Lake, along the Liard Highway, and on critical infrastructure within the community of Fort Liard.
The Incident Management Team continued to seek out opportunities for ignition operations to support long-term protections for the community of Fort Liard.
Officials assured there remains no threat to communities or infrastructure due to these wildfires at this time.
NORTH SLAVE REGION
The wildfire located about 3 km west of Hwy 3 (ZF015-25) which had grown from 23,116 hectares in size to 31,046 hectares last week, is expected to show increased activity this week as weather conditions heat up.
Officials reported that the fire is most visible between KM 150-190 on Highway 3.
“Crews continue work to maintain structure protection on cabins in the area. Smoke and visibility challenges are likely for travellers – drive with caution, follow directions from any staff in the area, and be aware that wildfire crews and water tenders are working to protect cabins along the highway – so be especially careful and considerate to keep our people safe,” said NWT Fire today.
Officials advise travellers to check conditions on roadways using DriveNWT.ca
The wildfire near Campbell Lake and east of Hearne Lake and Watta Lake Lodge (F024-25) is expected to see increased fire activity over the next few days as the weather heats up.
Officials reported that lodges at Hearne and Watta Lake are not at threat from this wildfire. Crews continued to maintain sprinklers in the area and sought to respond to additional hotspots around structures to avoid flare-ups.
“Additional lodges and values on the land are being assessed and protected with sprinklers as required to prepare for the long-term management of this wildfire,” said NWT Fire today.
SOUTH SLAVE
The fire (SS014-25) located about 27 km northwest of Fort Providence is showing more signs of fire activity.
“This fire took a run toward the northwest, but crews are ensuring sprinklers are up around nearby structures and are mopping up the area,” said officials today.
Crews are setting up protections on site.
“Under rapidly increasing fire activity, crews have pulled back and are running sprinklers at nearby values to the northwest of the fire to protect them. There is a large smoke column visible in Fort Providence and to travelers on Highway 3. However, the winds are pushing the fire away from the community. The smoke column looks much closer than it is – the fire remains about 27km northwest of Fort Providence. The community of Fort Providence is not at threat – there are swamps and other barriers to fire spread to the south. There are no threats to communities due to the wildfire at this time,” said NWT Fire today.
The SAHTU and BEAUFORT DELTA
NWT Fire reported today that currently there are no fires of concern in these regions.
NWT Fire ask anyone who would like more information to head to www.nwtfire.com or reach a Wildfire Information Officer at 867-445-5484 for updated information on the wildfire situation.
Officials urged residents to be mindful of campfires and bans in place.
Fort Simpson is among the communities with a full fire ban in place. Hay River is among the communities with a partial fire ban in place.
