Cloud, rain and cooler temperatures help Fort Good Hope wildfire fight

The Fort Good Hope wildfire has grown to 4,087 hectares, but has still not penetrated the community.

Containment lines continue to be built and the fire “has responded favourably” to recent cloudy skies and some rain, NWT Fire reports this morning.

Today’s weather forecast calls for a cloudy morning with a good chance of a rain shower in the late morning or early afternoon.

Cloud cover is expected to clear in the late afternoon and cooler temperatures throughout the day will assist fire response efforts.

Frank McKay is the Information Officer for the fire, known as VQ001.

“The recent cool damp weather (has allowed) progress in securing and continuing to build containment lines … facing the community around a local landmark named Old Baldy and airport road.,” he stated in a release.

“We have incorporated the Fort Good Hope fire brigade into our daily Incident Action Plan and are using a collective approach with the FGH fire brigade to protect the community.”

In Norman Wells, there are 225 evacuees from Fort Good Hope, whose lives was turned upside down in short order on Saturday when an abandoned campfire spread like wildfire towards the community on the shores of the Mackenzie River.

As for where the other evacuees are from the chartered community of more than 500 people, more than 118 stayed behind to help fight the fire, about 100 are at a fish camp, and 12 are in Délı̨nę.

Canada Post has a ‘red delivery service alert’ currently issued for Fort Good Hope. That means suspended delivery mail is being securely held until further notice.

Community engagement and evacuee outreach occurs twice daily with fire updates provided including interpretation in the local Indigenous language.

CBC North reports the fire and evacuation will not alter plans to hold the Dene National Assembly in Fort Good Hope in late July.