NWT Fire reported that FS014 did not expand towards Jean Marie River First Nation or Fort Simpson, but fire weather conditions forecasted tomorrow could change that. On the other side of the blaze’s front, crews warn that the fire could reach Hwy 1 by this evening. A potential ignition operation is being planned to help use the fire’s direction towards the highway as a strategic advantage.
Tomorrow, a shift to drier conditions with winds gusting up to 40 km per hour is forecasted, which could cause fire to expand towards the community.
“Conditions tomorrow forecast to shift drier, with winds light in the morning from the south, switching west by afternoon, and northwest by evening – with winds gradually picking up from 10km/h sustained, to 15km/h sustained with gusts between 25 and 40km/h. This would not be expected to put pressure on fire growth towards Highway 1, but may cause growth to the south at the south flanks of the fire, closest to Jean Marie River,” said NWT Fire today.
Crews reported good visibility on the side of the fire closest to the community, which has helped with fire response for Jean Marie River. Tomorrow, the situation is expected to change.
Officials said that there is a possibility that the fire could expand towards the south and east tomorrow, closer to Jean Marie River. NWT Fire reported that it is not likely to happen, due to the suppression work of crews.
The wildfire is not assessed to be a threat to Fort Simpson or the Fort Simpson airport at this time. The Liard River provides a strong buffer to fire growth to the Fort Simpson side of the river.
On the side of the wildfire front, the blaze remains about 200 to 300 metres east of Hwy 1 at km 454.
Officials advised that the highway could close by this evening.
Late last week, officials began advising that FS014 would likely reach Hwy 1. Yesterday, Mike Westwick with NWT Fire, told True North FM that crews are hoping to use the fire’s movement towards the highway as a strategy to help prevent the spread of the blaze.
Crews reported that heavy smoke is blanketing the area of the fire closest to Highway amid winds moving east and southeast at about 10km per hour, and sustained gusts of up to 20km per hour.
“The heavy smoke is keeping temperatures lower and the level of moisture in the air higher, with relative humidity (a measure of the level of moisture in the air) at around 60% as of 2pm. This is keeping fire activity lower today,” said officials.
“Our team is going to be working to use that highway as an anchor to hold that fire to the east,” said Westwick.
This weekend the fire near Jean Marie River First Nation doubled in size, according to reports this weekend by NWT Fire.
After successfully getting through “the worst of the wind event” from the Northwest, Westwick said that the fire had not grown much, and was still about 15 kilometres to the northwest of Jean Marie River because of effective suppression work.
NWT Fire reported that there has been progress in containing a minor jump spot over containment lines on the south flank of the fire, closest to Jean Marie River.
Today, officials confirmed that the fire had not expanded towards the communities of Jean Marie River First Nation or Fort Simpson.
Jean Marie River First Nation is currently under an Evacuation Alert.
Yesterday, Westwick said the fire is currently burning mostly on the surface, and there is not much burning seen in the treetops on the west flank (closest to the Highway and Liard River). Today, NWT Fire reported that the burning remains mostly on the surface.
According to a wildfire bulletin update, the fire remains about 13 km south and 15 km east of the village of Fort Simpson and about 3.5 km from the Fort Simpson Ferry Landing.
“The wildfire is not assessed to be a threat to Fort Simpson or the Fort Simpson airport at this time. The Liard River provides a strong buffer to fire growth to the Fort Simpson side of the river,” said NWT Fire.
Wildland crews continued to patrol Highway 1, and plan to suppress the fire should it approach the roadway.
Potential ignition operations may be mobilized to remove fuel between the Highway 1 and the wildfire.
Dry conditions due to drought in the area, have contributed to continuing fire activity.
“This wildfire has been fought since detection on June 27 – with direct action to contain the fire having escaped these efforts, driven by severe drought and extreme weather events,” said Wildland crews.
As of the latest update, there have been no losses of homes in Fort Simpson or Jean Marie River in relation to the wildfire.
Crews are maintaining structure protection on the far side of the Mackenzie River from Fort Simpson and sprinklers continue to be maintained within Jean Marie River.
