This article was written by the Canadian Press and was published in the Globe & Mail on June 18, 2024.
A wildfire that forced the evacuation of a remote community in the Northwest Territories continued to grow Monday, but high winds were expected to push flames away from the town.
Fire officials said warmer temperatures threatened to increase fire activity near Fort Good Hope. The weather was expected to remain the same Tuesday, with no rain expected over the next couple of days.
The community was told to evacuate Saturday, when the fire was less than two kilometres away. It later reached the town.
The out-of-control blaze grew Sunday night to more than 13 square kilometres from nine square kilometres.
“We haven’t lost any houses, any buildings,” Fort Good Hope
Chief Collin Pierrot told a briefing.
Just more than 100 of the community’s 500 residents have stayed back to help with fire suppression, he added.
The territory was also sending additional fire crews to the area. Those on the ground were patrolling the perimeter and attacking hot spots. Air tankers and helicopters were also dropping retardant and water buckets to slow growth of the fire.
Most evacuees were sent south to Norman Wells, while others moved to a nearby fish camp and the Dene community of Deline.
The territory said it doesn’t have a timeline for when residents might be able to return home.