Wildfire smoke closes Hwy 1 between Enterprise, N.W.T., and Alberta
Closure comes after territory warns of ‘extreme’ fire activity
Highway 1 between Enterprise, N.W.T., and the Alberta border is closed due to wildfire smoke, according to a statement from the territorial government.
Heavy smoke is coming from wildfires to the west and south. In a statement Tuesday morning, N.W.T. Fire said there are no wildfire threats to Enterprise or Hay River.
The heavy smoke has created low visibility and difficult driving conditions.
The Highway 1 closure came the morning after N.W.T. Fire said “extreme” fire activity was expected over the next 24 hours due to high winds.
Some rain, forecasted to start this morning in southern parts of the territory, is expected to help mitigate nearby fire growth.
As of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Alberta side of the highway is open. A photo from a highway web cam in Indian Cabins, Alta., shows brown smoky skies and low visibility.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Health systems need to be better prepared for wildfires, says Yellowknife doctor, CBC News
Finland: Russian forest fire smoke drifts into Finnish Lapland, Yle News
Norway: Smoke from Canadian wildfires forecast to reach Norway, The Associated Press
Russia: New NOAA report finds vast Siberian wildfires linked to Arctic warming, The Associated Press
Sweden: High risk of wildfires in many parts of Sweden, including North, Radio Sweden
United States: Wildfires in Anchorage? Climate change sparks disaster fears, The Associated Press
