Jean Marie River residents told to prepare again for potential evacuation due to wildfire

Jean Marie River, N.W.T., has issued another evacuation alert, after strong winds caused a nearby wildfire to grow toward the community this weekend.

Leaders in the community issued the evacuation alert on Sunday, asking residents to keep their cars full of gas and gather important documents in case the community needs to evacuate later. 

This marks the second evacuation alert for Jean Marie River this summer due to the same wildfire, FS014. The first evacuation alert, issued on July 7, was downgraded to an evacuation notice a few days later.

Mike Westwick, a fire information officer with N.W.T. Fire, told CBC on Monday that strong winds this weekend caused the fire to make a "significant run" toward Jean Marie River, and that the fire had "jump[ed] some containment lines" established earlier this month.

He said the fire is currently about 14 kilometres from the community at its closest point.

Westwick said winds are expected to shift later on Monday, making it less likely the fire will continue to grow toward Jean Marie River.

He added that crews are working to stop the growth of the fire toward Jean Marie River. They are dropping fire retardant at the fire's perimeter by ground and by air tanker.

Structural protection specialists are also working to re-establish sprinklers and other structural protections around Jean Marie River that were removed after risk to the community was downgraded earlier this month.

On Monday, Jean Marie River First Nation announced that it was postponing this year's family reunion and annual general meeting, events that were scheduled to happen next weekend.