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Busy forest fire season continues in the Deh Cho Two fires force closure of Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 25, 2013
DEH CHO
Two forest fires have led to the closure of one territorial park and the temporary closure of a highway as a busy wildfire season continues in the Deh Cho.
Smoke from a fire burning near Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park led to the closure of Highway 1 on July 16. The park was also closed as a result of nearby fires. - photo courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park was closed on July 19 and was still closed as of July 23 as a result of two nearby forest fires.
One fire north of the park, which is located along Highway 1, is burning over approximately 3,200 hectares while a number of fires that have combined together south of the park cover 2,700 hectares.
When the fires south of the park started earlier in July, they originally weren't a concern, but as the region experiences warmer weather again, the fires are becoming more active, said Judy McLinton, manager of public affairs and communications for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR).
Over the weekend, a fuel break was cleared to the east of the park office connecting the Trout River with Highway 1. The area of cleared forest should prevent the fire from coming close to the park office, she said.
Sprinklers have also been placed around all of the buildings in the park, including the viewing tower as well as cabins in the Trout River area, said McLinton.
Smoke from the fire north of the park led to the closure of Highway 1, between its junctions with Highway 3 and 7, on July 16. Traffic was escorted through the smoky section of the highway on the following two days and the highway was fully reopened on July 19, according to the Department of Transportation.
As of July 23, there were 38 fires burning in the Deh Cho of the 69 that have started so far this season. The only new fire in the past 24 hours as of July 22, was 63 kilometres south east of Jean Marie River and was started by a person.
The vast majority of the fires in the region this year have been caused by lightning.
Although rising temperatures and dry conditions are expected to increase fire activity this week, fire crews did receive a break between July 10 to 15 when cooler temperatures, rain and higher relative humidity dampened fires.
"It was a positive development for sure," said Carl Lafferty, the regional superintendent with ENR. "It bought us some badly needed time and gave us some breaks."
As a result of the weather change, the department was able to make progress on a number of the forest fires burning in the region, including the one located approximately 23 kilometres from Wrigley and six kilometres from Highway 1.
As of July 22, fire crews were putting out hotspots on the fire's western perimeter in steep terrain. They hoped to have the fire contained by July 26, said McLinton.
The fire is taking a while to contain because it is burning as deep as 45 centimetres below the surface in some locations. Because of that, the fire can flare up unexpectedly in areas where it was thought to be out, she said.
Concerns about smoke from the fire blowing over the community and closing evacuation routes such as Highway 1 and the airport led the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to call a voluntary evacuation order for Wrigley on July 8.
Approximately 40 people evacuated to Fort Simpson where the majority stayed in the student residences and some stayed with family members, said Mike Drake, the department's regional superintendent.
Based on positive information received from ENR on the morning of July 10, the evacuees were notified they could return home.
The evacuation was precautionary and the community did experience smoky conditions on the night of July 9, Drake said.
Drake commended Pehdzeh Ki First Nation staff for assisting those who evacuated, staff with Dehcho Health and Social Services for running a reception centre in the Fort Simpson recreation centre and the Village of Fort Simpson's community emergency response committee, and administrative staff for their work.
"It was a superb effort on their part," he said.
Changes in weather conditions also led to progress on the forest fire burning approximately nine kilometres northwest of Jean Marie River.
As of July 22, a few hotspots on that fire were still being put out and equipment and hoses were being removed from the area as work wrapped up, McLinton said.
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