N.W.T. fire update: Firefighters could be sent south as season slows
Only two new wildfires reported in last week, both contained
The wildfire situation in the N.W.T. is slowing down, with only two new fires reported in the last week.
Richard Olsen, the manager of fire operations for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, says that both of those fires — one near Fort Smith and one east of Yellowknife, near Reid Lake — have been contained.
Olsen says that with the situation seemingly under control, it's possible fire crews from the territory could be sent south to provinces where the situation is more critical.
"There's a lot of work that's been going on in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan," says Olsen. "We may be able to free up some people to go help them as they continue into their fire season."
However, Olsen says that the territory can't promise anything yet, as the North Slave region is still experiencing drought conditions.
Wildfires have burned 6,000 square kilometres of forest in the N.W.T. so far this year.