Yellowknife implements city-wide fire ban

As a summer heatwave hits the North Slave and several wildfires start in the region, the City of Yellowknife announced a city-wide fire ban.

In a news release on Friday, the City stated a ban on open-air burning is now in place – including approved fire pits.

On the same day, the territorial government placed similar bans on fires at the region’s Fred Henne and Yellowknife River parks.

Yellowknife’s fire chief, John Fredericks, said the city is facing very dry conditions with no rain in the forecast.

Daytime highs of up to 27C are forecast for the weekend, with evening temperatures hovering around 16C.

The North Slave has seen several wildfires start up within the past week, including a rapidly expanding fire 45 km northwest of the city.

In the space of Thursday afternoon, the fire expanded from 140 to 260 hectares and came within five kilometres of NWT Power Corporation transmission lines.

The fire ban will remain in effect until further notice.