Lessons learned: N.W.T. gov't acts on Namushka fire report recommendations

A senior fire official with the N.W.T. government said staff are better equipped to handle wildfire emergencies this summer after a fire destroyed a fishing lodge outside Yellowknife last year.

Namushka Lodge was consumed by an aggressive fire on July 15. The fire raced ten kilometres in less than ten hours, jumping over a road, a river, and a firebreak.

• 'We're quite concerned they haven't learned anything': Report on Namushka fire urges change
• 'We could have lost lives:' N.W.T. fishing lodge wasn't warned of approaching fire

The owners of the lodge claimed they received no warning from the territorial government to evacuate the lodge, putting numerous lives at risk.

Richard Olsen, fire operations manager with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said lessons were learned from that fire, and changes are being made.

An investigation into the fire resulted in seven recommendations. Environment and Natural Resources Minister Robert C. McLeod has committed to implementing all of them.

Recommendations include better communication with property owners, screening calls so duty officers can focus more on operations, and hosting a workshop ahead of the fire season.

Olsen said duty officers have already participated in a workshop and the rest of the recommendations are "being worked on."

More resources promised

Olsen said duty officers will "definitely" have more resources at their disposal, and are better equipped to handle similar situations this fire season, but he did not go into detail regarding those resources.

He said property owners have a part to play, too.

"We really do push personal responsibility for individuals to both be prepared in the event that something like that might happen and also to work towards ways that they can mitigate risk," Olsen said.

"From what I've seen, there's been an increased effort by the homeowners to try and ensure that ENR is aware of their sites and for improving the ways that we can communicate with each other during emergencies."

Fire crews ready for action

Olsen said 34 of the territory's 35 fire crews are ready to go, and most have wrapped up spring training. Additional helicopters and tankers will also be activated in the coming days.

A total of four wildfires have been reported in the territory this season – one near Inuvik, one outside Yellowknife and two in the South Slave region.

Three of the fires were started by people and have been put out. The fourth was lightning-caused and is "under control."

Fire officials describe ground conditions as especially dry around Yellowknife and southwestern portions of the N.W.T.