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Temperatures of 30C or more across much of the NWT in the days ahead mean “any spark in the forest could become a serious wildfire,” the territory’s wildfire agency warned on Tuesday.
Inuvik and Fort Smith are expected to hit 31C later this week. Norman Wells has a forecast high of 30C on Saturday. Fort Simpson is expected to reach 32C on Sunday.
Yellowknife has a forecast high of 28C this weekend.
“We are entering a serious heatwave with very little rain across much of the territory, very dry air and high temperatures,” NWT Fire stated.
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“Whether you’re out hunting, having a campfire or planning to clean up the yard, now is the time to do everything you can to make sure there’s one less spark.”
Officials have already expressed exasperation that so many of this summer’s wildfires are being started by people through the likes of abandoned or out-of-control campfires.
The NWT has recorded more fires so far this year than it had by this time last year – 41 in 2024 to 32 in 2023 – but this year’s fires have consumed a much smaller area of land.
As of Tuesday, NWT Fire said 27,798 hectares had burned so far this summer. That figure stood at more than 600,000 hectares on the same day last year.
