Wildfires start behind YK Staples and south of Highway 5

Six new wildfires were reported in the Northwest Territories and Wood Buffalo National Park over the past day, including one near Yellowknife’s Staples and one south of Highway 5 toward Fort Smith.

The one in the forested area behind Staples was a person-caused fire from an “illegal campfire,” NWT Fire stated on Saturday afternoon.

Wildfire crews and the City of Yellowknife’s fire division quickly responded and the fire has been declared out.

Given this weekend’s dry conditions, the fire “could have gotten out of control, threatening the property and lives of Yellowknife citizens,” NWT Fire stated.

Meanwhile, a fire located a kilometre south of the Snare hydro system northeast of Whatì is now under control.

The Snare system supplies power to much of the North Slave.

“There is no further threat to assets or infrastructure at this time,” NWT Fire said.

Elsewhere, none of the other new fires were said to be threatening communities, cabins or other infrastructure as of Saturday afternoon.

In Wood Buffalo National Park, Parks Canada said a new fire – or more accurately, a holdover from last year springing back to life – had been detected on Friday evening 20 km south of Highway 5 near Mile 99, well to the west of Fort Smith.

Drivers may see smoke from that fire from the highway.

“Upon initial assessment, fire behaviour was too intense for fire crews to action safely. This fire is now estimated at 100 hectares and is exhibiting higher-intensity fire behaviour,” Parks Canada stated on Saturday.

“Air tanker action has been requested. Fire specialists are considering a variety of response options, including indirect action and direct suppression with fire crews assisted by helicopters, as conditions permit.

“There is no risk to NWT Highway 5 or any communities at this time.”

NWT Fire meanwhile warned that “extremely dry days are ahead” and fire danger will rise to extreme in most of the North Slave, South Slave and Dehcho.

“Under these conditions fires can start easily, spread quickly and become extremely difficult to control,” the agency stated.

“Please do everything you can to avoid putting needless human-caused fires on the land and keep communities safe.”