1 more home — not 2 — lost to wildfire in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T., officials say

Fire officials in the N.W.T. say they made an error on Thursday afternoon by reporting two more homes had been lost to wildfire in Behchokǫ, on top of the three reported lost earlier. 

The actual number of homes lost in the community is four, according to an update from N.W.T. Fire late Thursday afternoon.

"All [four] were lost during the fire's initial approach to Rae, one of which was confirmed today. We apologize for the error and any confusion it caused for folks already going through so much," the update reads.

Also on Thursday afternoon, Highway 3 was closed once again between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ. (Find the latest on the highway here.)

The bulk of firefighting has been ongoing in Rae. Edzo, to the south, has not been compromised, though the fire reached Frank Channel on Wednesday.

N.W.T. Fire said crews have put out a "significant flare up" south of Rae, and structure protection at Frank Channel has so far held. The fire had not crossed Frank Channel towards Edzo, officials said Thursday afternoon.

An evacuation order remains in place for Behchokǫ's 2,000 residents. N.W.T. Fire said the wildfire is burning on both sides of Highway 3 now and smoke will be "severe" no matter which way the wind blows. 

Fire information officer Mike Westwick told CBC earlier Thursday morning that the Frank Channel bridge over Highway 3 is unaffected, and sprinklers have been put up on homes and structures in the area.

As of late Thursday, the wildfire had been most recently mapped at 114,215 hectares.

Warm weather, sun and wind have been pushing the fire further into the community.

Thick smoke blanketed most of the region for much of Thursday, officials said, before partially clearing in the afternoon, improving visibility.

Yellowknife, which lies 45 kilometres to the southeast of the fire, is not at risk. 

However, the fibre line, which brings internet to Yellowknife and elsewhere, remains at risk. 

There's no rain in the forecast.

Taltson Dam still safe

Fort Smith remains at the centre of fire action elsewhere in the territory. 

The most visible fire from that community is called SS022, burning across the Slave River about 25 kilometres from Fort Smith. The fire does not currently pose a risk to the community, Westwick said. 

Crews are also at work to protect the Taltson Dam from several fires that have burned 100,000 hectares, Westwick said. Work is underway to protect hydro infrastructure in the area. 

In Yellowknife, a fire burning north of Hidden Lake up the Ingraham Trail is visible from the city. 

The fire is burning east of Duncan Lake near Yellowdog Lodge and was last mapped at 7,600 hectares. 

Westwick said crews have been flying tanker missions on that fire, while making plans to manage the fire "in the long term." 

Fire risk remains extreme in most of the North and South Slave. 

A fire ban was put in place Wednesday for all parks in the North Slave Region. 

The South Slave remains under a sweeping fire ban imposed last week.