The government is actively engaged in battling three wildfires in the Northwest Territories, with two of them being attributed to human causes. One of the fires, originating in the South Slave region and estimated at 0.0001 square kilometers in size (equivalent to the size of a large house), is now under control. Termed as a “camp fire escaped” by the Environment and Climate Change website, this human-caused wildfire began on Monday.
Additionally, authorities are contending with an out-of-control overwintering fire in the South Slave region, covering approximately 0.05 square kilometers, which ignited on May 9. Overwinter fires are those that remain inactive or undetected for a significant period after ignition. This particular fire was detected through infrared scanning conducted along the perimeter of the Fort Providence wildfire from the previous year. Firefighters are currently working to tackle identified hotspots using heavy equipment to eliminate any residual heat.
In a separate incident in the North Slave region, officials are combatting an “out-of-control” wildfire spanning 0.001 square kilometers, roughly the size of a Canadian Football League end zone. This fire, which started on Saturday, is also attributed to human activity. Fire authorities had previously cautioned about the potential challenges of the ongoing wildfire season due to drought conditions persisting in certain parts of the territory. No immediate threats have been reported to Fort Providence, cabins, or infrastructure.