N.W.T. fire update: Smoky conditions expected to worsen
Smoke from fires in B.C., Alberta, Yukon and Alaska are to blame, fire officials say
People in Yellowknife woke up to the familiar smell of smoke this morning, and the Northwest Territories' manager of forest resources says the conditions are going to get worse across the territory.
Mike Gravel says fires in B.C., Alberta, Yukon, Alaska and the southern part of the territory are to blame.
"Smoke carries a long, long distance, so just because there's smoke in the air doesn't mean there's something very close to the community," Gravel said.
Gravel added that crews are stretched, with 35 new fires starting this week all the way from Inuvik to Fort Smith.
"It's very dry," he said. "It's very, very challenging for our firefighters.
"The guys have to go farther for water, so the time is longer. They're having to work more with hand tools, which makes the job even that much more difficult. So it's just a very, very challenging summer so far."
The last thing crews need to be dealing with, said Gravel, is person-caused fires.
"People need to recognize just how dangerous the situation is."
Success in 'critical areas'
Despite the smoky conditions, Gravel says crews in the territory have successfully contained eight fires in "critical areas," close to Yellowknife, Enterprise, Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte and Fort McPherson. All those fires have been brought under control or put out.
Crews are now fighting four fires that have gotten out of control, along Highways 1, 5 and 6. Gravel says those fires aren't threatening communities, but have the potential to grow and cause impacts on roads.
Gravel said they've had to look east for outside resources. Ontario has sent in air tankers to help, and Gravel hopes they will send more firefighters to help alleviate the strain on local crews.
Western Canada, said Gravel, is dealing with the same weather as the N.W.T., so there are no resources closer to home to spare.
Gravel also encouraged anyone who received firefighting training in the territory this spring to get in touch with the territory's department of Environment and Natural Resources.