Cool weather allows N.W.T. to send Ontario firefighters home
Fires near Hay River, Jean Marie River and Pine Point mostly contained, say officials
N.W.T. will be sending home some of its borrowed fire crews and equipment after a week of cool, wet weather allowed firefighters to make good progress on the priority wildfires in the territory.
Frank Lepine, N.W.T.'s director of forest management, says a 40-person crew from Ontario will go home tomorrow, and they will likely release aircraft and some heavy equipment in the coming days.
"Right now we have 350 firefighters on the line, we have a couple of dozen [bull]dozers and several extra helicopters," Lepine says.
"We're in pretty good shape. I can see us letting go of some of the resources over the next week."
Crews have been focusing on a number of fires over the last 10 days, including one that recently threatened areas of Hay River.
"We've been able to contain the north end of the fire and we're mopping up the fire along the river between Enterprise and Paradise," Lepine says.
Crews have also contained fires near the community of Jean Marie River and in the Pine Point area between Hay River and Fort Resolution.
Earlier in the week, a fire near Hearne Lake threatened several lodges in the area. Lepine says thanks to the cool weather, they are no longer at risk.
"The weather has been great. It's really helped us this past week," he says.
Lepine added that the weather is expected to continue to work in their favour.
"The outlook for the next week isn't good if you're wanting to suntan, but it's good for us firefighters."