Highway 1 stays open, for now, with FS014 wind shift expected

NWT Highway 1 outside Fort Simpson remained open on Saturday morning despite the slow advance on Friday of wildfire FS014.

The NWT’s wildfire agency expects a change in the wind on Saturday to keep the fire away from the road for the time being, though that may move the other side of the fire toward the community of Jean Marie River.

FS014 sits between Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River. The fire appears to be about a kilometre from Highway 1 at its closest point on its western flank, and 15 km from Jean Marie River on its southeastern flank.

“A wind shift to the northwest should push the fire away from Highway 1 and the Liard River, but may cause growth to the south and east – towards Jean Marie River,” NWT Fire stated in its Saturday forecast for FS014.

Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation Chief Kele Antoine confirmed at 9:30am on Saturday that Highway 1 had not closed.

Chief Antoine said NWT Fire “may decide to do a backburn today if the winds shift in a favourable direction and that may close the road for a few hours.”

The territory’s Department of Infrastructure said Highway 1 “may close between km 411 and km 457 with little to no notice.” Check Drive NWT for updates.

Jean Marie River remains on evacuation alert, with Fort Nelson or possibly Fort Liard being lined up as evacuation centres should the situation worsen and the highway to Fort Simpson be impassable.

On Saturday morning, NWT Fire’s Mike Westwick said a team patrolled the highway near FS014 “into the night” ready to hold the fire to the east of Highway 1.

More details about suppression work taking place on the fire are expected later on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Highway 9 was due to reopen at 10am to allow returning Whatì residents home following the lifting of that community’s evacuation order.

An evacuation order remains in place for Fort Providence.