Wildfire risk high in N.W.T. this weekend, 'really hot, really dry' conditions
Fire danger across much of the Northwest Territories will be high or extreme over the upcoming long weekend, according to officials.
Wildfire information officer Thomas Bentham says conditions in the North Slave, South Slave and Dehcho regions of N.W.T. are expected to be "really hot, really dry" over the Indigenous Peoples Day long weekend.
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Bentham said dry conditions are also expected in the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta, though temperatures there will be cooler.
The weather means that any fires that start on the land can grow extremely easily, increasing the risk of both lightning-caused and person-caused wildfires, he said.
"Our biggest concern going into any long weekend is abandoned fires, fires that are not properly put out," Bentham said.
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He urges anyone who is on the land this weekend to soak and stir their campfires multiple times to ensure they're out.
"Do not leave one ember behind that is red," he said.
Bentham said fire officials are also expecting some lightning in eastern N.W.T. and in the Dehcho over the long weekend, but crews will be monitoring for fires and will respond to any fires they see close to communities.
Bentham said that with no rain expected in N.W.T. until the end of June, fire danger is expected to continue into next week.
Fires of note
Bentham said there are a few new "fires of note" in the territory this week, all of which are in the Dehcho region.
One is FS009, a lightning-caused fire about 38 kilometres from Fort Simpson.
The fire, which was first spotted on Tuesday, was last measured at 500 hectares. It's currently being fought by tankers, ground crews, and air support.
Bentham said crews are also responding to fire FS010-25, located 25 kilometres east of Fort Simpson and north of Jean Marie River. That fire is still less than one hectare in size, Bentham said.
A firefighter fights a wildfire near Tulip Lake in the N.W.T. earlier this week. Wildfire information officer Thomas Bentham says the territory will be watching for new fires throughout the Indigenous Peoples Day long weekend. (N.W.T. Fire)
"The water tankers have been hammering it pretty hard and we expect it to fizzle out, hopefully," he said, adding that the fire is not currently considered a danger to Jean Marie River or Fort Simpson.
Bentham said fire crews are also responding to fire FS008, which is 50 kilometres northeast of Wrigley. That fire was last measured at 1,488 hectares, and is not currently considered a danger to any structures near Wrigley, Bentham said.
This article, written by Sarah Krymalowski, was originally published for CBC News