NWT Fire has released a new report on the wildfire which caused the evacuation order for the community of Wrigley yesterday.
The fire is located 12 km north of the community, and the latest estimates put its size at just over 13200 hectares.
According to the report, the fire has not grown closer to Wrigley since yesterday, mostly growing in a northern and western direction.
Rainfall is expected to keep the fire in place over the next 72 hours, giving an opportunity for strategies to be reassessed for handling the fire.
NWT Fire says crews and aircraft were able to respond aggressively with their initial attack, but extreme weather conditions and lack of visibility overwhelmed their efforts.
Structure protection is being deployed for the community’s edge as well as for at-risk critical infrastructure, prioritizing the northern end of the community.
Heavy equipment is in place to widen existing fuel breaks, and an ignition specialist has been brought in to assess opportunities for controlled ignitions of unburned fuel.
No loss of cabins or structures has been reported at this time.
