DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - A backlog of traffic piled up in Fort Providence after smoke from a forest fire led to the temporary closure of Highway 3 over the weekend.

The highway was closed between Behchoko and Fort Providence on July 18 at 9:30 p.m. because of a fire located south-west of Behchoko.

Between 30 and 40 transport trucks and other vehicles filled the lot at the Big River Service station when Highway 3 was closed due to smoke from a forest fire. - photo courtesy of Christopher Carson

"The visibility didn't allow us safe operation of vehicles," said Earl Blacklock, the manager of public affairs and communications for the Department of Transportation.

The highway was reopened to one lane of traffic on Sunday morning but was closed again by 4:30 p.m. The visibility on the highway was approximately 100 feet, said Blacklock.

While it was opened pilot vehicles were used to guide traffic through the smoke. The drivers of the vehicles were familiar with the road and stopped if visibility decreased, Blacklock said.

"It's a bit safer for vehicles to travel in a convoy at a controlled speed," he said.

The road was reopened again on Monday morning to one lane of traffic. Pilot vehicles guided traffic through the section of the highway between the North Arm Park and Behchoko.

As of Tuesday morning restrictions had been lifted but drivers were being advised to use extra caution and watch for highway and fire crews along the road.

The closure illustrates the need for Northerners to be prepared when travelling in case they can't complete their planned journey, said Blacklock.

"There were a number of people who had to stay the night in Yellowknife and Fort Providence," he said.

The closure of the highway led to a spike in business at the Snowshoe Inn in Fort Providence.

"We have been full," said Linda Croft, the hotel manager.

All the rooms in the hotel were booked on both Friday and Saturday nights. The Department of Transportation phoned the hotel when the highway closed which allowed the staff to be ready for the increase in guests, Croft said.

"Everyone was pretty understanding and good about the whole thing," she said.

Just outside of Fort Providence at the Big River Service Station vehicles started to accumulate as soon as the highway was closed.

"We were pretty full over the weekend," said Harriette Orr, the assistant general manager.

Orr said vehicles filled both the front and the back lots surrounding the service station.

"Everything was here," said Orr.

The lot was filled with transport trucks and campers as well as trucks, vans and cars. On Saturday the lot was so full that some transport trucks parked on the side of the road.

It's hard to say if the closure created any extra business, said Orr. Most vehicles already stop at the service station on their way by, she said.

When the highway was reopened, the vehicles quickly left, she said.

"Everyone was pretty anxious to go," said Orr.

As of July 22, the forest fire covered 34,000 hectares.

A lightning strike started the fire on June 21, said Judy McLinton, the fire information officer for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Five crews and a number of aircraft are fighting the fire, said McLinton.

- with files from Ben Morgan