Jean Marie River, N.W.T. residents told to prepare for potential wildfire evacuation
This is the second evacuation alert for Jean Marie River, N.W.T., this summer
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.
With files from Shannon Scott
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Wildfire complex? Blacklining? Here’s what N.W.T. Fire lingo actually means, CBC News
Finland: Last week’s wildfires in Northern Lapland cost taxpayers more than €100k, Yle News
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
Norway: Smoke from Canadian wildfires forecast to reach Norway, 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
