Edzo six-plex fire contained after more than half a day

The fire that consumed most of a six-plex in Edzo “has been contained,” Behchokǫ̀’s senior administrator says, after burning for most of Friday.

In a statement shortly before midnight, Pushp Seth praised the “tireless and extraordinary effort” of the community’s firefighters, water truck drivers and heavy equipment operators.

Multiple homes were lost, though so far there are no reported injuries.

As fundraisers began for people who lost homes in the Edzo fire, Seth noted the limits placed on firefighters in small communities.

Not all NWT communities have fire departments. Of those that do, many feature volunteer crews trained in defensive firefighting.

Offensive firefighting involves working to directly extinguish a fire, which often requires being near the flames and possibly inside an affected structure.

By contrast, defensive firefighting involves not entering the building but instead working from the surrounding area to try to contain a fire and protect other structures.

While it isn’t risk-free, defensive firefighting is designed to prioritize the safety of crews who often aren’t full-time firefighters.

Seth referred to this in his statement late Friday, noting the Community Government of Behchokǫ̀ fire service’s capacity is defensive, not offensive.

“In simple terms it means that our volunteer Firefighters cannot go in the building on fire, but attack the fire from outside,” he wrote, thanking contractors Kiewit and Sunset Project Services for their assistance and noting that some hot spots were still being addressed.

By Saturday morning, fundraisers had begun to appear online to help some of those affected.

One post, which had raised $3,000 by 6:30am on Saturday, described a couple who “face the overwhelming task of starting over” after the fire claimed their unit in the six-plex. (The family are relatives of a Cabin Radio employee.)

Another family, posting a fundraiser of their own, described the “sudden and devastating” loss of their home.

Earlier, Chief of Behchokǫ̀ Bertha Rabesca Zoe offered prayers for affected families.

“We will come together when the time comes to help them out,” she wrote in a statement.

Housing stock is already under pressure in Tłı̨chǫ communities and across the NWT.

The Tłı̨chǫ Investment Corporation said its “immediate priority is supporting the displaced community members, including securing temporary housing and working toward longer-term housing solutions.”