A call to fire crews from a fast-thinking resident stopped an unattended fire getting out of control in Yellowknife on Sunday.
Tashina Weagle was driving past the brushland between the Chateau Nova Hotel and Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre at 6pm when she caught sight of what appeared to be smoke.
A fire truck and tanker responded within minutes. Firefighters could be seen carrying a succession of water pails into a wooded area.
Weagle said a member of Yellowknife’s fire division had described “a couple of burning logs” left unattended – a situation which “could have been a lot worse” if crews had not had the chance to quickly douse it.
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“I’m just relieved it turned out to be something,” said Weagle, who had worried about making an unnecessary call – and remained to guide firefighters to the area in which she saw smoke. She praised the rapidity of their response.
Nobody from the fire division was immediately available for comment.
The fire danger forecast in Yellowknife remained extreme on Sunday, according to the territorial Department of Environment and Natural Resources – though a light rain had begun to fall in the late afternoon, and more rain is forecast for Monday.
The area of brushland in question sits between the museum, legislature, former visitors’ centre, and the Chateau Nova and Explorer hotels across the highway.
