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People who chose to remain in Wrigley after an evacuation order late last month are being told to leave after fire FS015 flared up on Saturday.
“There she goes,” Pehdzéh Kı̨ First Nation Chief Jamie Moses said as he uploaded a short video to Facebook in which a siren rings out across the community.
“Please calmly make your way to Fort Smith. Keep checking in with staff and family. Let people know where you are and what your plans are,” Moses wrote.
“Forestry crews already packed up camp and may move to airport. We just can’t see where the fire is right now, so it’s imperative we get everyone out now, especially since we don’t know where or what the fire is doing and we have north wind coming in, too.”
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Many Wrigley residents left at the end of June when an evacuation order was first declared.
Fire FS015 remained parked about 12 km north of the community for some time, but moved about a kilometre closer earlier this week.
On Saturday afternoon, NWT Fire said FS015’s perimeter had moved a further two kilometres toward the south-southeast overnight.
“All remaining residents and some support staff have been asked to evacuate the community as a precaution,” the wildfire agency stated.
No structures have been lost, NWT Fire said. A planned ignition to remove fuel in the fire’s path at the north end of Wrigley could take place in the coming week if conditions allow.
Gusty winds later on Saturday and strong winds on Sunday were expected to make the task of fighting the fire complicated in warm, dry conditions, while low visibility was also an issue. Any rainfall was expected to be “light and spotty” at best.
