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Jean Marie River’s Tthets’éhk’édélı̨ First Nation has issued another evacuation alert – the second of the month – over a wildfire approaching from the northwest.
Fire FS014, which caused concern earlier in July, was driven back toward the Dehcho community by strong winds on Friday.
At 12:45pm on Sunday, the First Nation said a new evacuation alert was being issued over “potential danger” from the fire.
An evacuation alert is one rung below an evacuation order. An alert isn’t an instruction to leave, but it’s designed to tell residents to be ready.
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“You are advised to keep a full tank of gas in your vehicle at all times and prepare personal items to be ready to leave the community on short notice, should the need there be a need to evacuate,” the First Nation stated.
“Information on the evacuation location and travel information will be provided if an evacuation order is issued.”
The First Nation’s next update is expected at 6pm on Sunday.
NWT Fire said FS014 had advanced a further four kilometres since Saturday and is now 14 km northwest of Jean Marie River.
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The wildfire agency described “vigorous growth under challenging winds” and said there is “the potential for threat to the community over the next 48 hours.”
“Multi-year drought in the area means there is a lot of fuel available, deep burning, and major wildfire suppression challenges,” NWT Fire added.
Air tankers, helicopters and multiple crews are assigned to the fire. A structure protection team is heading to the community.
“Today, winds are coming from the north, which could push the fire south, closer to the community of Jean Marie River,” NWT Fire stated.
“Tomorrow, winds are expected to shift to south to southeast – which would push the fire back on itself and provide an opportunity to get good work done.”
The seven-day forecast for Jean Marie River includes some intense heat in the days ahead, with a high of 32C expected on Wednesday. No rain is anticipated in the near future.
Jean Marie River spent five days – July 7-12 – under an evacuation alert earlier this month related to the same fire, which has been burning for a month. Conditions subsequently improved.
The community, which is home to about 70 people, was evacuated for 11 days because of a fire in 2023. Jean Marie River also faced an evacuation because of flooding in 2021.
