Yellowknife (July 23/03) - The North Slave region is a forest fire waiting to happen, say NWT forestry officials.

As a result, fire crews were put on red alert as of 3 p.m. Monday.

"We are now at the extreme level," says Roger Fraser, the Renewable Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED) forest-wildlife officer for the North Slave region.

Fire crews, water bombers and two helicopters are now on standby and prepared to be in the air within 15 minutes of a fire being called in.

"Our main goal is to put a fire out in 24 hours," Fraser says.

Lightning strikes and campers failing to extinguish campfires properly are the two main causes of these blazes, he says.

There have been a total of 13 forest fires in the North Slave region this year, with six still currently burning, he notes.

While no there are no fires currently threatening Yellowknife and the surrounding cottage country, a 1,600-hectare fire was reported burning 18 kilometres from Norman Wells Tuesday.

Celina Stroeder, Sahtu regional superintendent with RWED, said the fire started up quickly Monday evening but appears to be under control.

"We were well over 32 C yesterday," said Stroeder. "When first called in it was approximately 114 (hectares) and very warm, dry temperatures in a good fuel area."

She said five front-end loaders were moved into the area to build a fire guard, and two air tanker groups were dispatched to douse the flames.

Peak season for forest fires runs from July until mid-August.

Anywhere between 100 to 150 fires a year are average. So far, this year is on par with previous seasons, he says.

Two to three days of rain are required to bring the fire weather index down to a more moderate level.

Last Friday's lightning storm could also mean small fires are smouldering under the surface of the topsoil, waiting to burn if conditions become drier -- hence the red alert designation, Fraser says.

Campers are cautioned to ensure their campfires are completely extinguished, by soaking the area well and patting the soil to ensure no embers are smouldering.

So far this year, 8,891 hectares of Northwest Territories' forests have burned.

Forest fires can be reported to the Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development office at 1-800-661-0800.

-- with a file from Mike W. Bryant