Wildfires

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…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 18, 2024

Several new wildfires in southern regions, but none pose risk to cabins or infrastructure

Today's overall look at the wildfire situation shows 118 fires so far this season, consuming 103,841 hectares


A dozen new wildfires have been sparked — including six in the South Slave region, and two in the North Slave — but all are fairly remote and pose no risk to cabins or infrastructure, stated NWT Fire. There is no update yet today on the more troublesome wildfires south…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 17, 2024

Sweltering heat wave feeding two South Slave wildfires

Both blazes south of Fort Resolution and Little Buffalo River overnight ‘have grown considerably,’ says NWT Fire


Hot, dry and windy conditions continue to work against efforts to stomp out two naturally caused wildfires south of Fort Resolution. NWT Fire spokesperson Tom Bentham stated today that after, “an evening of increased fire activity, both fires have grown considerably.” “Today’s objective is to decrease fire intensity with aggressive…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 16, 2024

NWT Fire claims ‘significant reduction in fire activity’ at Fort Resolution after hard-fought night

However, there remains a risk to cabins, camps and infrastructure in the evacuated Little Buffalo River area


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,…