Wildfires

Environment, Featured, Health, News, Weather, Wildfires August 18, 2024

When will wildfire smoke clear? Don’t hold your breath

As warmer, drier conditions return, smoky winds will push from the south until mid-week


Many areas in the NWT experienced cooler temperatures late last week, which was been helpful in limiting extreme fire growth. However, fire crews are now preparing as the weather fluctuates, NWT Fire stated on Sunday afternoon. Dana Bowen is with the Department of Environment and Climate Change. “There are currently…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires August 16, 2024

Jet-setting Indigenous input into Northern climate change

NASA/GNWT study looks at increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, which may be occurring faster than forests can recover


Representatives from the Tłı̨chǫ region and Yellowknives Dene First Nation participated in a NASA climate change research flight aboard a NASA jet today. The Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment is a long-term collaboration between the Government of the Northwest Territories and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The goal is a better…

Featured, News, Transportation, Weather, Wildfires August 14, 2024

Rain will throw cold water on ‘massive’ wildfire growth in southern regions

‘There is finally a break from extreme heat and high winds in much of the NWT,' says NWT Fire


The rain currently falling in some regions will help limit some of the massive fire growth experienced over the weekend, says NWT Fire. There are several large wildfires still burning in the Dehcho and South Slave regions and smoke will be pushed into various communities, depending on the winds. The…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires August 11, 2024

Territory experiencing ‘most severe fire weather’ this summer, warns NWT Fire

Structure protection and sprinklers set up proactively in four communities across three regions   


Weather conditions today and Monday are forecast to support extreme fire activity with “significant growth,” building off aggressive fire behaviour on Friday and Saturday, says NWT Fire. Residents of Kakisa, Wrigley, Deline, are watching wildfire activity a couple of dozen kilometres away, but are not at threat at present, read…

Art, Entertainment, Events, Featured, News, Wildfires August 9, 2024

Music and merriment to fill the air one year after Enterprise’s devastating wildfire

The Gateway Jamboree marks 25th anniversary this weekend, with a roster of entertainers, merchants, food and plenty of family fun


The Gateway Jamboree in Enterprise marks its 25th year of family fun this weekend, but another more sombre anniversary will be on minds as well. Just hours after last year’s Jamboree finished, winds pushed a raging wildfire that had been moving away from the community right towards Enterprise, and the…

Environment, Featured, News, Wildfires August 6, 2024

Campfire carelessness could have sent small island up in smoke

Fire crew quickly extinguishes wildfire within one kilometre of cabins on Great Slave Lake, says NWT Fire


A person-caused fire on a small island near Mackenzie Island on Great Slave Lake “had the potential to spread quickly,” but was snuffed out by crews over the weekend, says NWT Fire. Shannon Graf is a wildfire information officer with the territorial government. “Fire ZF043 … was quickly actioned by…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 21, 2024

Firefighters battle second trail camp fire in Yellowknife

There are regional fire bans in place for the Dehcho, North Slave and South Slave


Municipal firefighters are investigating another human caused fire in Yellowknife. A wooden tent platform for unregistered camping near the NWT Legislative Assembly was burned in the blaze, reported Cabin Radio. Responding firefighters required streets to be closed and bus service through Niven neighbourhood was re-directed. Amy E. Kennedy is a…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 20, 2024

UPDATED: Open flames immediately banned across southern Northwest Territories

There is high to extreme wildfire danger driven by 'extraordinary weather and drought conditions,' says NWT Fire


Any thoughts about having a campfire this weekend across the entire southern half of the Northwest Territories have been extinguished with GNWT fire restrictions implemented immediately. Mike Westwick is the territory’s manager of Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation. “These bans are being implemented due to high to extreme wildfire danger and…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 19, 2024

Lightning sparks two wildfires near Whatì; Fort Res area still blanketed in smoke

Following a 'strong, successful initial attack' crews have a 'good handle' on fire closest fire the community, says NWT Fire


A wildfire 20 kilometres north of Whatì has forced the diversion of NWT Fire crews from a blaze about 50 kilometres from that lakeside Tlicho community. Weather conditions had influenced Wednesday’s lightning-caused fire ZF026 to grow significantly to the north along the west shores of Lac La Martre. Thomas Bentham…