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N.W.T. fire: Hwy 6 to Fort Resolution closed due to wildfires

The N.W.T. Department of Transportation has announced it's closed Highway 6, the road to Fort Resolution, due to a forest fire.

Northwestel says technicians are working to protect phone services, internet

Smoke from a forest fire is visible from the junction of N.W.T. highways 5 and 6 Friday afternoon. Highway 6 to Fort Resolution has been closed due to the fire. (submitted by Jodie Miersch)

N.W.T.'s Highway 6, the road to Fort Resolution, closed this afternoon due to a forest fire, according to the N.W.T. Department of Transportation.

Smoke from a forest fire is visible from the junction of N.W.T. highways 5 and 6 Friday afternoon. Highway 6 to Fort Resolution has been closed due to the fire. (submitted by Jodie Miersch)

The highway has closed at kilometre 24.

The wildfires are also threatening communications to the community. 

Northwestel says its technicians are working to protect equipment, but there is a risk to local and long distance phone services as well as internet.

Fuel stolen

The territorial government says fuel was stolen from caches it keeps in the Sandy Lake area, and that hampered firefighting efforts near the junction of Highways 5 and 6 this week. 

They say two helicopters were grounded for more than three hours while they waited for fuel to arrive from Hay River.

The government is asking anyone with information about the thefts to contact the RCMP.