Advertisement.
The Northwest Territories wildfire agency says work by fire crews on Wednesday night helped prevent a wildfire from destroying any structures in Fort Good Hope.
On Wednesday evening, NWT Fire confirmed that wildfire VQ001 had jumped a containment line to the north of the community near Rabbit Skin River.
In a Thursday morning update, the wildfire agency said airtankers and crews worked to put out hotspots that had crossed the containment line, which were brought under control.
“Everybody’s holding up. The people that stayed behind are continuing to assist in whatever way,” Brenda T’Seleie Pierrot told Cabin Radio.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
“A lot of people are really tired. So we’re doing the best we can to try to make everything easier and accessible to our firefighters that are working hard.”
Fort Good Hope has been under an evacuation order since June 15, after an abandoned campfire became an out of control wildfire. It reached the edge of the community later that evening and continues to burn near Fort Good Hope.
Around 118 residents stayed in the community to help support firefighters.
On Wednesday at 6:30pm, Chief Collin Pierrot issued another evacuation order advising any remaining residents to leave.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
T’Seleie Pierrot said many of the people who had stayed behind headed to a fishing camp, where some other residents had fled following the initial evacuation order.
“I know everybody in Délı̨nę and Norman Wells wants to come home. But just keep praying that we get a hold on this and that we get to bring everybody home soon,” she said.
The fire was last measured at 5,696 hectares on Tuesday morning.
NWT Fire said fire mitigation efforts will continue to focus on containing the wildfire perimeter facing the community. Work to protect structures also continues.
NWT Fire said “more aggressive fire behaviour” is expected due to continued dry weather.
Claire McFarlane contributed reporting.
