Fire's growth toward Yellowknife slowed; Kakisa ordered to evacuate

Fire officials say they managed over the last day to slow the growth of a massive wildfire moving toward Yellowknife — but it may only be a bit of temporary relief.    

As of Thursday morning, the wildfire was about 15 kilometres northwest of the municipal boundary — about two kilometres closer than the night before, when an evacuation order was issued for the entire city and surrounding areas.

Fire information officer Mike Westwick said officials were anticipating even more movement toward the city over the previous day. 

"It did only move a couple [of kilometres]. That's in part because we were able to get up in the sky and on the ground and suppress that fire. We had seven air tankers working that east side. We had crews on the ground and we were able to slow the growth," he said.

According to an update from N.W.T. Fire at 11 a.m., the fire was not expected to move much closer to the city on Thursday. That's because northerly winds by the afternoon were expected to primarily push the fire south toward Great Slave Lake. There was also a chance of some showers through Thursday.

Things could change again by Friday, however. Winds are expected out of the northwest on Friday and Saturday which would continue to push the fire toward the city. Officials have said the fire could reach Yellowknife by the weekend.

"There is no doubt that that is a serious situation. And that's why the government has taken steps to prioritize people's safety, and use this safe window for passage," Westwick said.

East of the city, there was minimal growth of the fire threatening the Ingraham Trail area. However, the fire could reach the area by the weekend. Residents there were ordered on Wednesday evening to evacuate the area immediately.

Kakisa ordered to evacuate

Another evacuation order was issued on Thursday morning for the town of Kakisa, N.W.T.

The order, issued at 11:19 a.m., advises residents to leave immediately. It follows an evacuation alert issued for the community nine days ago. 

Kakisa residents are advised to leave by highway and register at the band office as they are leaving the community. An evacuation centre has been set up in Fort Simpson, N.W.T.

Kakisa, with a population of about 40 people, joins a list of several N.W.T. communities — including the capital — that have been ordered to evacuate.

Westwick said the territory has never experienced a wildfire season that's had such a heavy impact, with so many communities forced to evacuate.

"There's no other word to describe it, than a crisis," he said.

"We haven't seen anything like this. But every single day in the face of this, dedicated responders are working hard to keep the things that people care about here safe."

Telecommunications still down 

Several evacuated communities in the South Slave region were still without telecommunications service on Thursday, and Northwestel said it would be at least another day before any service is restored.

As of Thursday, Enterprise, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Hay River, Jean Marie River and Kakisa in the N.W.T. were without service, as was High Level, Alta.

Northwestel said technicians have now been able to access the "multiple areas" where the fibre line along Highway 1 has been damaged, and repair work was underway. The company says it's coordinating with N.W.T. Fire to ensure its technicians remain safe.

Telecommunications in the Beaufort Delta region have also been affected by wildfires. Damage to the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link means service is available but "congested," in Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik, Tsiigetchic, and Fort McPherson.

Technicians have not yet been able to access the damaged parts of that fibre line because of wildfires, the company says.