Fires flare up along Highway 1, near Sambaa K’e and near Hay River

A new and rapidly growing wildfire closed NWT Highway 1 between the Highway 3 intersection and Jean Marie River access road on Friday.

The NWT’s Department of Infrastructure confirmed the fire’s presence and the highway closure just before 4pm.

By the early evening, NWT Fire said the fire, near Redknife River, had already reached 1,500 hectares in size, fanned by high winds.

NWT Fire said the fire was a suspected overwintering fire and was being assessed. The agency warned of “significant fire activity” and smoke in the area.

The development meant wildfires had effectively cut off the Dehcho on Friday, with Highway 7 south to BC closed and Highway 1 east to Hay River, Yellowknife and Alberta also shut down. The ferry to Fort Simpson, earlier suspended because of wind, has since resumed sailing.

Elsewhere in the territory, there were two fires reported south of Hay River and one near Sambaa K’e. All were being fought by fire crews.

The Highway 1 fire appeared from satellite imagery to be about 17 km east of Sambaa Deh Falls, a popular territorial park along the highway.

At Fort Providence’s Big River gas station, on Highway 3 heading south toward Highway 1, news of the fire had reached drivers waiting for updates on when they can safely travel.

The fire came on a day that NWT Fire had warned could prove challenging, with strong winds whipping across the Dehcho and into the South Slave.

In Hay River, some outdoor events moved indoors to get out of the wind. A fire flared up on Patterson’s Road, just south of the town, with the Hay River Fire Department sent to respond on Friday afternoon. By 7pm, that fire had been extinguished.

Meanwhile, a separate fire – believed to be person-caused – began opposite the AWP Industries yard near Enterprise. “It will be actioned and assessed further,” NWT Fire stated. Highway 1 has been closed from Enterprise to the Alberta border over fires near the border and in northern Alberta.

In Fort Simpson, the NWT Power Corporation said trees were down because of the wind and crews were en route to address the problem.

In Fort Liard, the community placed residents on evacuation notice – an early warning to be ready – in case a wildfire some 22 km southwest of the hamlet advances closer in the conditions. As of 7:30pm on Friday, Highway 7 remained closed at the BC-NWT border because of fires in northern BC.

Just outside Sambaa K’e, NWT Fire reported a suspected human-caused fire that was being attacked by ground crews. Winds were expected to push the fire, southeast of Sambaa K’e, away from the community, and NWT Fire said Sambaa K’e “is not currently at threat.”