The Fort Good Hope wildfire has now consumed over 6,285 hectares, with more hot and dry weather on the way.
Shannon Graf is the NWT Fire information officer assigned to the Fort Good Hope fire, known as VQ001.
“Dry weather is expected to continue with the evenings offering little relief for the relative humidity. It can be expected that we will see continue to see aggressive fire behaviour. This could create localized smoke in the affected areas that may be visible from the community.”
Temperatures are expected to hit maximums of 28C with no precipitation.
Crews have completed a 100-foot bulldozed blackline around the perimeter of the community. This can involve burning off any remaining fuels in the area such as dead trees or grass; it can also involve digging to the soil.
The community of more than 500 remains evacuated, save for some essential workers and firefighters.
The Fort Providence Experimental Site ready for FireSmart testing. (Photo courtesy of NWT Fire)
In other wildfire news, there was a test fire set last night at the Fort Providence Experimental Site, located roughly 40 kilometres north of Fort Providence.
The fire, known as SS020, is 1.5 hectares in size and classified as human caused, escaped, and out of control this morning, stated NWT Fire.
Mike Westwick is a NWT wildfire information officer.
“The prescribed fire noted in the previous notice went ahead as planned. It has been successful. Work will continue tonight to ensure it remains contained to its intended boundaries. Fire crews, air support, and sprinklers are positioned to effectively manage this prescribed fire.
“There may be visible smoke in the area. It is no cause for alarm.”
Westwick this afternoon told CKLB the Experimental Site blaze will be re-classified to “being held.”
This research at the site is run by the GNWT in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, FP Innovations, the First Nations Emergency Services Society of BC, the Canadian Forest Service, and other research partners.
The research being will help inform FireSmart work not just locally, but nationally, by testing the resilience of different building materials and FireSmart treatments to wildfire, and sprinkler effectiveness under severe fire conditions.
More information on this project is available in this video.
UPDATE: The Experimental Site fire was overnight classified as “out of control” as it had grown beyond its intended area, but it’s being downgraded to “being held” this afternoon.
