Officials hope natural barriers hold back wildfire near Whatı̀, N.W.T.

By Tamara Merritt 

Officials in Whatı̀, N.W.T., say conditions over the next day or two will be crucial in determining whether the community will be forced to evacuate due to a nearby wildfire.

As of Thursday, Whatı̀ was still under an evacuation alert due to the fire burning eight kilometres from the community. 

“Some parts of the fire have reached natural barriers such as rocky terrain or water bodies,” Whatı̀’s senior administrative officer, Sherbaz Muhammad, wrote in an update on the the Tłı̨chǫ Government’s Facebook page Thursday afternoon.

“We are hopeful these barriers will hold during Friday’s [anticipated] wind event.” 

Stronger winds were expected on Friday from the south, which could push the fire closer to the community. 

The alert issued by the Whatı̀ government Wednesday doesn’t mean residents have to leave just yet, but they should be prepared to do so at a moment’s notice.

State of local emergency

One way to prepare for an evacuation is to gather essential supplies such as important documents, medications and an emergency kit, Muhammad told CBC News.

It’s also important for people to make emergency plans with their families, he said.

The community is under a state of local emergency due to the wildfire, Muhammad said. 

Around 30 volunteers have stepped up to assist the community government with further evacuation plans, such as coordinating registration and transportation. 

If an evacuation does happen, the plan is to transport vulnerable residents — such as elders and those with mobility issues — and those without vehicles or who choose to leave their vehicles behind, on buses secured by the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency, Muhammad said. 

If Highway 9, the only road connecting Whatı̀ to Behchokǫ̀ and Yellowknife, closes down due to wildfire conditions, the Whatı̀ government will charter planes to transport residents to safety. 

Michel Moosenose, a councillor with Whatı̀’s community government, said he plans to catch a ride with a friend to Yellowknife if the need arises because he doesn’t own a vehicle. 

For now though, Moosenose said there isn’t much that can be done besides making preparations to leave.  

“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “People are just waiting.”

Marie Rabesca, who is 82 years old, has lived in Whatı̀,for over  years. She plans to evacuate the community on one of the buses provided by the TSA and said her clothes are already packed. 

While in Whatı̀, Rabesca said, she feels the effect the wildfire is having on her health.

‘My throat is getting sore’

“My throat is getting sore because of the smoke,” she said. “If the smoke is coming to your lungs, it’s not going to be good. Most of the people–they kind of worry. They are kind of scared because they don’t know what’s going to happen. I myself feel like that.”

While the fire near the community didn’t advance much Wednesday night, winds from the south are expected Friday and will result in “pretty severe conditions,” said N.W.T. fire information officer Mike Westwick.

“You could see some really significant growth on that fire, and the ability for it to kind of crawl around those water bodies to the south of the community and make an advance towards the community,” Westwick said.

But these weather conditions aren’t expected to last long; on Sunday, things are expected to “mellow out pretty considerably,” he said. 

Westwick said firefighting efforts will be “laser focused” on water delivery to the edge of the community as well as setting up sprinklers “to mitigate any potential losses if the fire does approach.” 

Some people in Whatı̀ have taken the preemptive step of leaving the community before an actual evacuation order has been issued, said Muhammad. But he didn’t know exactly how many community members had already left. 

The office of the territory’s chief public health officer issued a public health advisory Thursday, notifying residents that the North Slave and South Slave regions are experiencing fluctuating air quality with very high-risk readings in some areas.

Young children, pregnant women, people with heart conditions or diabetes and elders are among those who are most vulnerable to smoke exposure, the advisory said.

People are encouraged to stay inside–ensuring all windows and doors are closed–drink lots of liquids, avoid the use of candles and wood stoves, and wear a face mask when outside. 

People experiencing severe symptoms of smoke exposure, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat or dizziness should call 811 or visit their local health centre, the advisory said.

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: Hot, dry conditions hamper efforts to fight some N.W.T. wildfires, CBC News