Published Aug. 22, 2023 7:14 a.m. ET
Updated Aug. 22, 2023 1:57 p.m. ET
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The southern part of the Northwest Territories is a specific issue for firemens on Tuesday as temperature levels skyrocket, increasing fire behaviour.
Here’s the latest:
- Fire behaviour “impending” in Fort Smith, update says
- Yellowknife still under evacuation order however city begins prepare for safe return, bringing some hope
- Critical facilities not “yet” affected by fires in the N.W.T., federal ministers state
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Heat and wind are making conditions in the Northwest Territories challenging for teams to tame blazes.
A short break in the weather condition over the weekend enabled groups to go on “offense” instead of “defence” versus the fires. This technique might not hold up over the next number of days as firemens get ready for “severe fire behaviour” in some locations, nevertheless.
Higher temperatures and a lack of moisture in the air is of particular concern to crews especially in the Fort Smith area.
“The weather and conditions of the South Slave (region) are going to be way more extreme than the North Slave over the next 24 hours,” Jessica Davey-Quantick, fire information officer with N.W.T., told CTVNews.ca in an interview on Tuesday.
The rain in the North Slave area around the capital city was “lucky” for crews who were able to hold back the fire from Yellowknife over the last few days.
But the concern for crews and officials is the southern communities like Hay River, Kakisa and Fort Smith.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Davey-Quantick said. “The fire danger is continuing, the winds continue to be quite high and they do continue to shift…That is not helpful to us.”
FORT SMITH
Crews are focused around the Fort Smith area where the expected high is supposed to reach 27 C on Tuesday.
The community of 2,500 people has declared a State of Local Emergency and remains under an evacuation order as the Wood Buffalo Fire spreads dangerously close.
As of Tuesday morning local time the fire is four kilometres from Fort Smith and about six kilometres from Fort Fitzgerald, Alta.
“With the hotter, drier weather, increased fire behaviour is imminent,” an update from officials reads. “THIS IS NOT the time to come home.”
There are reports of people trying to re-enter the town of Fort Smith despite the wildfire threat.
A spokesperson from the N.W.T. told The Canadian Press checkpoints are being established to deter evacuees from returning. Those who are stopped at the checkpoints will be asked to verify they are an essential worker.
The fire started in Wood Buffalo National Park and fighting it is a joint effort between the N.W.T., Parks Canada and Alberta.
The blaze has grown to 4,304 kilometres in size, which is three-quarters the area of P.E.I.
“We recognize that this distance has not changed in the last week or so and we would like to stress that this wildfire is still a significant threat,” the update reads.
About 277 personnel, 55 pieces of heavy equipment and 24 helicopters are responding to the blaze that crossed over Highway 5 closing the only road out of the community.
Officials warn “extreme fire behaviour is expected” due to drought conditions.
An update for the Fort Smith area on the N.W.T. website says on Tuesday the humidity will be lower than the temperature.
“This causes extreme fire behaviour and is extremely unsafe for people to be around,” the update reads. “Winds are expected to come from the southwest at 10-15km/h, gusting up to 20-25 km/h. Given the forecast, this could be an extreme fire behaviour day.”
Over the next three days, Fort Smith has an “extreme” fire risk forecast.
DANGER TO CREWS
Fires burning deep into the ground can severe roots of trees and create unsafe conditions for firefighters, Davey-Quantick told CTVNews.ca
“We’re trying really hard to fight the fires, but also keep everybody safe,” she said.
The southern portion of the territory has been under extreme drought conditions all summer, which allows fires to burn through the soil.
“It’s hard to predict but what we do now is it is hot and it is dry,” Davey-Quantick said.
HAY RIVER AND SURROUNDING AREA
The small community of Kakisa with a population of 39 has been issued an evacuation order due to a wildfire.
On Monday at 5 p.m. local time the Kakisa fire, which is eight kilometres south of Hay River, crossed Highway 1 impacting evacuation routes.
Evacuation orders continue for Hay River, Enterprise and K’atlodeeche First Nation.
The fire is about 14 kilometres from Kakisa with conditions not looking good on Tuesday.
“Weather could be a concern over the next couple of days, with south winds up to 50km/h expected on Tuesday and Wednesday night,” an update reads.
Highway 1 between Kakisa and Entreprise is open this morning but could close with little or no notice, the highway conditions map for the N.W.T. shows.
FIRES HAVE NOT IMPACTED CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
At a cabinet retreat in P.E.I., Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the fires in the N.W.T. have not impacted powerlines.
“My understanding is that by and large, a lot of the critical infrastructure has not yet been affected,” he said at a press conference. “We are certainly working very actively with provinces and territories and keeping on top of that, to ensure that if there are risks to that we are doing everything we can to address those.”
Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu addressed how the fires have been impacting communities in the territory saying the government is ready to respond to the needs of evacuees.
“It really is all hands on deck,” she said of the multiple government agencies working together to ensure evacuees have money, benefits and access to important documents.
Hajdu said her department has committed to covering all eligible evacuation and recovery costs for Indigenous communities.
“This is really a very difficult situation to manage for chiefs and councils, often communities are very small and have limited capacity,” she said. “So the department has stepped up both in practical supports to help coordinate some of those evacuations to provide health support and then to provide the financial supports that are necessary in these extraordinary times.”
Despite evacuation orders still in effect, the federal government is in talks with the N.W.T. on a plan to bring people back.
“It’s still a dangerous situation but we’re looking at bringing people back,” Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, said at the press conference. “There’s a multitude of departments involved in that and that’s hopefully the next step.”
There is no timeline in place, the minister said, for when evacuees can return home.
YELLOWKNIFE
More than 300 personnel (including the Canadian Armed Forces) are assigned to the fires threatening the territory’s capital.
Late Monday evening, fires did not move closer to Yellowknife and are still about 15 kilometres from the nearest municipal boundary.
“Thanks to the weather, they have been able to do a lot of those water bombings and to suppress the fire,” Rebecca Atly, mayor of Yellowknife told CTV News Channel on Tuesday. “It’s also meant that on the ground, the firefighters are able to create those cut lines, cutting down trees (and) lay fire retardant.”
Atly said the “good weather” has allowed crews to create a plan and implement it.
The city is under a medium fire danger risk on Tuesday.
Conditions could worsen throughout the day with winds that could push the fire south and east.
“Falling moisture in the air may lead to increased fire activity,” an update from the N.W.T. reads.
The city has been under an evacuation order for a number of days but about 1,600 residents have not left, Atly said.
“We still have too many people that are still here,” she said. “I really encourage folks (to leave) the highway is open and flights are still available.”
The concern for those staying behind is the limited access to resources such as medical care and groceries.
“If the fire comes and it’s a threat, we want to focus on the fire and not doing an emergency evacuation,” Atly said.
The mayor says she understands the anxiety residents are feeling being away from home, but there is some hope.
“What I can say though, is that staff are already working on the plans for reopening so that when it’s safe to do so we can we can get people back as quick as possible,” Atly said.
She stressed that plans are starting to be planned to ensure when the evacuation order is lifted that people can return safely.
Nearby Behchokǫ̀ is under an extreme fire risk but the community is not at threat.
“The significant burned area surrounding the community, alongside the strong perimeter built, means the community is at very low risk,” the statement reads.
SAHTU REGION
The smaller and remote communities in the Sahtu region are seeing two new fires.
The fires were sparked in the last day, which is a concern for the area as fire danger risk ranges from medium to extreme.
The only road is closed from Fort Good Hope and Wrigley. The road into Délı̨nę remains open on Tuesday morning, the highway conditions map shows.
The Tulita wildfires are located on either side of the Mackenzie River near the community of Tulita. An update from the N.W.T. says the fires are active but are showing minimal growth.
“Both fires occupy locations of previous fires in the past: which means there is limited fuel available to them today,” the update reads.
The communities of Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells are facing high fire danger on Tuesday. Colville Lake has a medium fire risk.
About 2,992 kilometres of land has been impacted in this region from wildfires.
With files from The Canadian Press.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Are you impacted by the wildfires currently blazing across British Columbia and Northwest Territories? Have you been forced to evacuate your home as a result? CTVNews.ca wants to hear from you.
Email [email protected] with your photos and videos from the ground, as well as your name, general location and phone number. Your material may be used in a CTVNews.ca story.
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Heat and wind are making conditions in the Northwest Territories difficult for crews to tame blazes.
A brief break in the weather over the weekend allowed teams to go on "offence" rather than "defence" against the fires. This technique might not hold up over the next couple of days as firemens prepare for "severe fire behaviour" in some locations, however.
- Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News
Higher temperature levels and an absence of wetness in the air is of specific issue to teams particularly in the Fort Smith location.
"The weather condition and conditions of the South Slave (area) are going to be way more severe than the North Slave over the next 24 hr," Jessica Davey-Quantick, fire info officer with N.W.T., informed CTVNews.ca in an interview on Tuesday.
The rain in the North Slave location around the capital city was "lucky" for teams who had the ability to keep back the fire from Yellowknife over the last couple of days.
But the issue for teams and authorities is the southern neighborhoods like Hay River, Kakisa and Fort Smith.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Davey-Quantick said. "The fire threat is continuing, the winds continue to be rather high and they do continue to move…That is not useful to us."
FORT SMITH
Crews are focused around the Fort Smith location where the anticipated high is expected to reach 27 C on Tuesday.
The neighborhood of 2,500 individuals has actually stated a State of Local Emergency and stays under an evacuation order as the Wood Buffalo Fire spreads out precariously close.
As of Tuesday early morning regional time the fire is 4 kilometres from Fort Smith and about 6 kilometres from Fort Fitzgerald, Alta.
"With the hotter, drier weather condition, increased fire behaviour impends," an update from authorities checks out. "THIS IS NOT the time to come home."
There are reports of individuals attempting to return to the town of Fort Smith in spite of the wildfire hazard.
A representative from the N.W.T. informed The Canadian Press checkpoints are being developed to hinder evacuees from returning. Those who are stopped at the checkpoints will be asked to confirm they are a vital employee.
The fire began in Wood Buffalo National Park and battling it is a collaboration in between the N.W.T., Parks Canada and Alberta.
The blaze has actually grown to 4,304 kilometres in size, which is three-quarters the location of P.E.I.
"We acknowledge that this range has actually not altered in the recently or two and we wish to tension that this wildfire is still a considerable hazard," the update checks out.
About 277 workers, 55 pieces of heavy equipment and 24 helicopters are reacting to the blaze that crossed over Highway 5 closing the only roadway out of the neighborhood.
Officials caution "severe fire behaviour is anticipated" due to dry spell conditions.
An update for the Fort Smith location on the N.W.T. website says on Tuesday the humidity will be lower than the temperature level.
"This triggers severe fire behaviour and is exceptionally hazardous for individuals to be around," the update checks out. "Winds are anticipated to come from the southwest at 10-15km/h, gusting as much as 20-25 km/h. Given the projection, this might be a severe fire behaviour day."
Over the next 3 days, Fort Smith has an "severe" fire danger projection.
RISK TO CREWS
Fires burning deep into the ground can extreme roots of trees and develop hazardous conditions for firemens, Davey-Quantick informed CTVNews.ca
"We're attempting actually tough to eliminate the fires, however likewise keep everyone safe," she said.
The southern part of the area has actually been under severe dry spell conditions all summertime, which enables fires to burn through the soil.
"It's tough to anticipate however what we do now is it is hot and it is dry," Davey-Quantick said.
HAY RIVER AND SURROUNDING LOCATION
The little neighborhood of Kakisa with a population of 39 has actually been provided an evacuation order due to a wildfire.
On Monday at 5 p.m. regional time the Kakisa fire, which is 8 kilometres south of Hay River, crossed Highway 1 affecting evacuation paths.
Evacuation orders continue for Hay River, Enterprise and K’atlodeeche First Nation.
The fire has to do with 14 kilometres from Kakisa with conditions not looking good on Tuesday.
"Weather might be an issue over the next number of days, with south end up to 50km/h anticipated on Tuesday and Wednesday night," an update checks out.
Highway 1 in between Kakisa and Entreprise is open today however might close with little or no notification, the highway conditions map for the N.W.T. programs.
FIRES HAVE ACTUALLY NOT AFFECTED CRITICAL FACILITIES
At a cabinet retreat in P.E.I., Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the fires in the N.W.T. have actually not affected powerlines.
"My understanding is that by and big, a great deal of the vital facilities has actually not yet been impacted," he said at an interview. "We are definitely working really actively with provinces and areas and continuing top of that, to make sure that if there are dangers to that we are doing whatever we can to resolve those."
Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu dealt with how the fires have actually been affecting neighborhoods in the area stating the federal government is all set to react to the requirements of evacuees.
"It actually is all hands on deck," she said of the several federal government firms collaborating to make sure evacuees have money, advantages and access to crucial files.
Hajdu said her department has actually dedicated to covering all qualified evacuation and healing expenses for Indigenous neighborhoods.
"This is actually a really tight spot to handle for chiefs and councils, frequently neighborhoods are really little and have actually restricted capability," she said. "So the department has actually stepped up both in practical supports to help collaborate a few of those evacuations to supply health assistance and after that to supply the financial backings that are required in these remarkable times."
- Photo gallery: Wildfires in B.C. destroy structures
Despite evacuation orders still in impact, the federal government remains in talks with the N.W.T. on a strategy to bring individuals back.
"It's still a hazardous circumstance however we're taking a look at bringing individuals back," Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, said at journalism conference. "There's a wide variety of departments associated with that which's ideally the next action."
There is no timeline in location, the minister said, for when evacuees can return home.
YELLOWKNIFE
More than 300 workers (consisting of the Canadian Armed Forces) are appointed to the fires threatening the area's capital.
Late Monday night, fires did stagnate better to Yellowknife and are still about 15 kilometres from the closest community border.
"Thanks to the weather condition, they have actually had the ability to do a great deal of those water battles and to reduce the fire," Rebecca Atly, mayor of Yellowknife informed CTV News Channel on Tuesday. "It's likewise implied that on the ground, the firemens have the ability to develop those cut lines, reducing trees (and) lay fire retardant."
Atly said the "good weather condition" has actually enabled teams to develop a strategy and execute it.
The city is under a medium fire threat threat on Tuesday.
Conditions might intensify throughout the day with winds that might press the fire south and east.
"Falling wetness in the air might cause increased fire activity," an update from the N.W.T. checks out.
The city has actually been under an evacuation order for a variety of days however about 1,600 homeowners have actually not left, Atly said.
"We still have a lot of individuals that are still here," she said. "I actually motivate folks (to leave) the highway is open and flights are still available."
The issue for those remaining behind is the restricted access to resources such as treatment and groceries.
"If the fire comes and it's a danger, we wish to concentrate on the fire and refraining from doing an emergency situation evacuation," Atly said.
The mayor says she comprehends the stress and anxiety homeowners are feeling being far from home, however there is some hope.
"What I can state however, is that staff are already dealing with the prepare for resuming so that when it's safe to do so we can we can get individuals back as fast as possible," Atly said.
She worried that strategies are beginning to be prepared to make sure when the evacuation order is lifted that individuals can return securely.
Nearby Behchokǫ̀ is under a severe fire danger however the neighborhood is not at hazard.
"The substantial scorched location surrounding the neighborhood, along with the strong border constructed, suggests the neighborhood is at really low danger," the declaration checks out.
SAHTU AREA
The smaller sized and remote neighborhoods in the Sahtu area are seeing 2 brand-new fires.
The fires were stimulated in the last day, which is an issue for the location as fire threat threat varies from medium to extreme.
The just roadway is closed from Fort Good Hope and Wrigley. The roadway into Délı̨nę stays open on Tuesday early morning, the highway conditions map programs.
The Tulita wildfires lie on either side of the Mackenzie River near the neighborhood of Tulita. An update from the N.W.T. says the fires are active however are revealing very little development.
"Both fires inhabit places of previous fires in the past: which suggests there is restricted fuel available to them today," the update checks out.
The neighborhoods of Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells are dealing with high fire threat on Tuesday. Colville Lake has a medium fire danger.
About 2,992 kilometres of land has actually been affected in this area from wildfires.
With files from The Canadian Press.
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WE WISH TO SPEAK WITH YOU
Are you affected by the wildfires presently blazing throughout British Columbia and Northwest Territories? Have you been required to leave your home as an outcome? CTVNews.ca wishes to speak with you.
Email [email protected] with your pictures and videos from the ground, along with your name, basic place and telephone number. Your product might be utilized in a CTVNews.ca story.
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