NWT Town Under Evacuation Order Due to Wildfire Within 2 Km of Community

Evacuees from Yellowknife make their way along Highway 3 at the edge of a burned forest on their way to Fort Providence, N.W.T., on Aug. 17, 2023. The Canadian Press/Bill Braden

Residents of Fort Providence, N.W.T., are required to evacuate due to a wildfire that is now within two kilometres northeast of the community.

The community of Fort Providence issued an evacuation order at 8:50 a.m. on Aug. 31 due to a wildfire encroaching on the community. Residents are required to leave the area immediately, register with the community, and proceed to a reception centre set up in Hay River, about two hours and 20 minutes away by car to the southeast.

“This wildfire grew significantly overnight driven by severe northerly winds,” the province said in a wildfire update at 1:45 p.m. local time on Aug. 31, adding that the fire was now within two kilometres northeast of Fort Providence.

The local weather forecast for Aug. 31 is calling for winds primarily from the south until the evening when northerly winds are expected and could push the fire to Fort Providence’s edge.

The province says structure protection specialists have set up sprinklers and water cannons on all structures along the community’s northern perimeter to “mitigate potential losses.”

The fire was first discovered on July 7 and was caused by lightning, the province says. The fire has grown to 89,000 hectares in size as of 1:45 p.m. on Aug. 31 and is deemed to be “out of control.” The province indicates that the response to the fire is “limited action.”

Highway 3 is closed between the junction of Highway 9 (to Whatì) and the junction of Highway 1 (south of Fort Providence), the province said in a Facebook post at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 31. However, for residents evacuating from Fort Providence, the highway is open to southbound traffic and the Deh Cho Bridge has two lanes open. The province advises people to “drive cautiously as conditions may be smoky.”

Whatì

Fort Providence is the second community in the Northwest Territories to be evacuated in the last few days, as the community of Whatì issued an evacuation order on Aug 29. All Whatì residents were required to leave immediately and register at the Whatì Cultural Centre. The province says first responders may not be able to rescue residents who choose not to leave the area if it’s unsafe to do so.

Reception centres for evacuees have been set up in Behchokǫ̀ and Yellowknife. The Behchokǫ̀ Cultural Centre will provide meals for evacuees in Behchokǫ̀, while United Way and the Salvation Army will provide food for evacuated residents at the Yellowknife reception centre, the province says.

The Whatì wildfire was first discovered on Aug. 7 and is said to have been caused by lightning. The fire, which is 7 kilometres south of the Whatì Airport, spans 10,000 hectares and is deemed to be “out of control,” says the province’s latest update posted at 2 p.m. on Aug. 31. The fire response involves “sustained action,” and structure protection has been put in place at the edge of the community.

Winds are expected from the north-northwest on Aug. 31, which would push the fire away from the community of Whatì and instead grow to the south. The province says this may allow air tankers and helicopters to attack the fire directly.

Jean Marie River

The community of Jean Marie River issued an evacuation notice at 5 p.m. on Aug. 30, which advised residents of a wildfire that could present an increased risk to the community. Residents are advised to prepare for a potential emergency and an evacuation if it becomes necessary, by ensuring their vehicles have a full tank of gas and preparing personal items.

An Aug. 31 update on the First Nation community’s Facebook page says that the fire did not grow overnight but that winds are expected to pick up later in the day and potentially lead to smoky periods. The post says that structural protection specialists will set up sprinkler systems as a precautionary measure at that point.

The fire, which is located 15 kilometres northwest of Jean Marie River, was first discovered on June 27 and was caused by lightning, according to the province. The fire spans 20,362 hectares and is said to be “out of control,” the province’s update at 2:15 p.m. on Aug 31 says.

The response to the fire involves “sustained action,” and while suppression activities are continuing on the southern side of the fire, the province says crews were successful in holding the southeast flank.

Southerly winds are expected in the coming days, which could cause the fire to grow to the east and north. However, no communities, cabins, or infrastructure are currently at threat, the province added.