Crews protecting N.W.T.'s Highway 1 visitor centre as wildfire moves north

Fire crews have set up sprinkler protection for the N.W.T.'s 60th Parallel Visitor Information Centre on Highway 1, after a wildfire on the N.W.T.-Alberta border moved north.

As of Thursday night, the fire was about 300 metres from Highway 1, said fire information officer Mike Westwick.

As of noon Friday, the highway was listed as open on both sides of the border.

"That fire had some pretty significant activity yesterday, driven by warm temperatures, winds from the south, which supported greater fire growth to the north," Westwick said Friday morning.

"The important thing for folks, though, is that we have taken steps proactively to protect values along the highway and in areas that this fire could be reaching in the next few days here."

The bulk of the fire response has been managed by Alberta Wildfire, and the N.W.T.'s efforts are focused on supporting them, Westwick said.

As of Friday morning, Alberta Wildfire was expecting warm weather, low humidity and some wind in the area of that fire.

"Such conditions are conducive to the fire gaining significant ground," it stated in an online update.

It said the wildfire became "very aggressive" Thursday afternoon, burning along the west side of Alberta's Highway 35 and pushing into the N.W.T.

Firefighters and heavy equipment had to be pulled from the fire line in some areas due to safety concerns, but helicopters and air tankers were still operating.

Alberta Wildfire estimates that wildfire now covers 14,000 hectares. It says 124 firefighters are assigned to it, along with 14 helicopters and 18 pieces of heavy equipment.