N.W.T. imposes sweeping fire ban to protect against 'extraordinary weather conditions'

The N.W.T. government took the extraordinary step Thursday of issuing a fire ban for almost the entire South Slave region, a measure the territory has never before used.

The ban is needed to protect against "continued extreme fire danger and extraordinary weather conditions to protect communities and protect wildfire fighting resources by limiting avoidable person-caused fires," a news release reads. 

On Wednesday, the N.W.T. Métis Nation posted to Facebook a letter it received from the territory's forest supervisor, informing them the restriction would be coming.

"The South Slave region has been experiencing extreme fire danger for several weeks, with forests that are tinder-dry, making fire control very challenging," the letter reads.

Fire danger was high or extreme in every South Slave community Thursday, and is expected to get worse for most going into the weekend.

Hot temperatures and smoke have been blanketing communities in recent days, while water levels in rivers and lakes are noticeably lower than previous summers.

The letter, first reported by Cabin Radio, points to the issue of not having enough resources to fight more fires, should they spring up. Firefighters from elsewhere in Canada, who the territory would usually rely on to bolster its crews, are tied up fighting fires in other jurisdictions.

"As a result, the Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC) will have very limited ability to acquire additional resources to action new or expanding fires," the letter reads.

The ban is effective immediately and applies to all open fires outdoors, even if they are in a fireplace, fire pit or burning barrel. No open fires are allowed at campsites or in public campgrounds, and no open stoves or grills are allowed. 

The ban also applies to fireworks, flares, pyrotechnic bear bangers, sky lanterns and firing incendiary or tracer ammunition.

It covers the communities of Enterprise, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Hay River, Kátł'odeeche First Nation and Kakisa. 

A special exemption is in effect for activities that involve exercising treaty rights, the use of flares or bear bangers in an emergency, the government's anthrax or wildfire operations, and the use of closed stoves, barbecues and furnaces.

The letter says this is the first time the territorial government has imposed this kind of sweeping order. Under the N.W.T. Forest Protection Act, the forest supervisor has the power to make such an order if "hazardous conditions" or spreading fires make it necessary.

The ban is expected to be in place until July 28, but could be either cut short or extended depending on what happens.

There are 96 active fires in the N.W.T. on Thursday afternoon, according to N.W.T. Fire, with nearly a million hectares of land burned. Twenty-three of the fires are in the South Slave region.

Violations of the ban can be reported to 1-877-NWT-FIRE.