Advertisement.
Essential staff were told to leave Fort Providence early on Monday morning as a wildfire moved closer to the community.
A public safety bulletin issued after midnight advised all residents of Fort Providence as well as emergency and essential personal to leave immediately.
“The area has an immediate threat due to a wildfire and is not safe,” the bulletin stated.
At 1:15am on Monday, NWT Fire said wildfire SS014 had moved to within 1km of Fort Providence due to wind coming primarily from the northeast. It said the fire was continuing to approach the community’s southeast edge.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Some essential workers were being evacuated but firefighters remained in the community, NWT Fire said.
Fort Providence Mayor Danny Beaulieu told Cabin Radio after 9am on Monday morning that the fire had not reached the community.
“It was a little bit exciting for awhile but it turned out good and in the community’s favour,” he said.
Evacuees ‘getting the royal treatment’
A reception centre has been set up in Hay River and several businesses in the town are offering discounts and other supports to evacuees from Fort Providence.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The City of Yellowknife has advised Fort Providence residents who are stranded in the city to register at the reception centre at Yellowknife’s fieldhouse.
Fort Providence has helped thousands of residents who were evacuated from other communities in recent years.
Now Beaulieu said Fort Providence evacuees are “getting the royal treatment” from Hay River.
“It’s excellent,” he said.
“I talked to the deputy mayor this morning and people are happy, they’re comfortable. They’re just worried about their dogs.”
Beaulieu said dogs that remain in Fort Providence are “well taken care of” and senior administrative officer Susan Christie has been feeding them.
More favourable forecast for Monday
Wildfire information officer Mike Westwick told Cabin Radio around 10am on Monday that fire SS014 is about 900km from Fort Providence.
He said more favourable southeasterly winds are expected Monday alongside cooler temperatures.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
“It should give us the opportunity to strategically attack directly parts of that line … if that forecast pans out and the smoke clears out enough for us to use machines out there,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of fire front to deal with right on Fort Providence’s doorstep and we’ll be working to contain what we can there to prevent growth towards Fort Providence and continue to maintain and strengthen community protection measures in place.”
Earlier on Monday, NWT Fire said structure protection specialists continue to run water canons and sprinklers and firefighters are wetting down the forest around the access road to Fort Providence.
Westwick said with Monday’s forecast, the wildfire agency hopes that smoke will clear out allowing to make water drops to reduce the fire’s intensity. He said visibility has been “extremely poor” making it “highly unsafe” for pilots to operate, particularly with ground crews working in the area.
Related Articles