N.W.T. fire update: Hay River residents asked to prepare for evacuation
Wildfire burning across from Paradise Valley could spread depending on wind, weather conditions
The mayor of Hay River, N.W.T., is telling residents to be prepared for a possible evacuation if weather conditions push a nearby forest fire toward the community.
An advisory was issued by the town's Emergency Management Organization Sunday night as a precaution.
A group of fires the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has designated the Paradise Complex is burning across the river from Paradise Valley and Garden Row Delancey Estates.
The fire covers 5,000 hectares and winds from the south are forecast in the next few days, which could send it in the direction of the community of about 3,700.
"There is a concern about the size of the fire. The winds have begun to slow and change direction, potentially pushing the fire towards town," said Mayor Andrew Cassidy.
"They are just monitoring the fire to see where it is going to go and that will give us a better idea regarding any sort of evacuation plan."
Greg Haist lives in Paradise Gardens, where the town's fire chief went door to door yesterday asking people to take precautions. He says he has his truck gassed up and ready to go in case the winds change.
"We got a whole bunch of stuff put together in the house like photos and stuff we don't want to get lost," he said. "I've got camping stuff in the truck because I just went camping, so I've left that in the truck so I can just go somewhere and pitch a tent if I have to."
Crews are working to re-establish an old fire guard in the south end of Hay River and they're doing some spot burns to remove brush and other fuel that could bring the fire closer to town.
In the bulletin, fire chief Ross Potter said the town will be posting updates which can be accessed by phone at (867) 874-3335. The town will also be updating the green screen for residents who receive it, and sending out advisories by email.
You can sign up for the advisories at http://hayriver.com/residents/ by going to the bottom of the page and signing up for the Breakup Mailing List.
Fire threatens Jean Marie River
Jean Marie River, in the Dehcho region, has also been advised to prepare for a possible evacuation as a fire is burning three kilometres northwest of the community.
Chief Gladys Norwegian says the alert is a precaution. Should an evacuation order be given, community members would likely go to Fort Simpson, she said.
"They told us the ferry was notified in Fort Simpson and that the village has been notified as well so my sense is that they will evacuate us over there," she said.
The community has a population of about 70. Last year about 50 residents went to Fort Simpson in a voluntary evacuation when a forest fire burned right up to the opposite bank of the Mackenzie River.
A territorial government road report issued Monday morning advised that Highway 5, which connects Hay River to Fort Smith, has been closed due to forest fires in the area.
Highway 6, which leads from the Buffalo River Junction to Fort Resolution, remains open for the time being, but the GNWT advised that it may close on short notice if conditions change.
Telephone and internet service to Fort Smith is also being threatened by a wildfire. Northwestel says service has not yet been affected and technicians are taking steps to protect telecommunications equipment.
Wildfires in Alberta forced the closure of Highway 35 north of the town of High Level on Sunday. The highway was re-opened Monday morning, but an update posted to the Alberta Department of Transportation website states that the Highway will be "intermittently closed due to fires."