Hot and dry conditions are making it challenging for firefighters and aircraft to bring two wild blazes in the South Slave near Little Buffalo River under control.
Winds are currently pushing to the northwest at an estimated 10 to 15 km/h, slowly towards Fort Resolution.
Fire SS040, now 13 hectares, is 22 kilometres from Fort Resolution. It was at 24 kms when first spotted Monday at suppertime.
Tom Bentham speaks for NWT Fire:
“After an evening of aggressive retardant and water drops on both locations, there was a significant reduction in fire activity,” he stated in a late afternoon release.
Fort Resolution. (Photo courtesy of GNWT)
“There is a risk to cabins, camps and infrastructure in the Little Buffalo River area. Both fires continue to burn and are considered out of control.”
With the two naturally caused blazes – including SS042, at just .1 hectares — being so close to camps and cabins in the area, the Hamlet’s Administrator recommended everyone in the Little Buffalo River area evacuate as a precaution.
Aircraft from Yellowknife, Fort Smith and Hay River have been dispatched to perform fire suppression action, focusing on the northern line of the fire.
Air support will continue to keep fire intensity low to assist ground crews as they action the fire with hoses and hand tools.
Three crews are currently on the ground to suppress and to build containment lines to prevent further spread from fire perimeter.
More resources are arriving, including a crew from the North Slave Region.
A wildfire liaison is in the area to provide on-the-ground updates to residents, including in Indigenous languages.
Before and after images show the aggressive water and fire-retardant drops by multiple aircraft during the initial attack on Monday evening. Image on top was taken by an air tanker on arrival at fire SS040, and image on bottom is at departure after multiple drops by aircraft. It shows a significant reduction in fire activity. These air activities set up the ground crews moving in. (Photos courtesy of NWT Fire)
