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Jean Marie River put on evacuation alert High winds flame forest fires in the Deh Cho, ferry camp burns
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 4, 2013
DEH CHO
One community was put on evacuation alert and a ferry camp was burnt on July 2 as strong winds caused complications with forest fires in the Deh Cho.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources advised Jean Marie River on Tuesday that people at risk such as elders, youth and people with respiratory conditions should be moved from the community due to concerns about smoke from a forest fire burning 10 kilometres northwest of the community. All other residents were put on evacuation alert, said Judy McLinton, the manager of public affairs and communications for the department on July 2.
The fire near Jean Marie River was the only one in the Deh Cho that crews were working on on Tuesday due to concerns about high winds.
The fire was being actioned because of its close proximity to the community, said Carl Lafferty, the regional superintendent for the department.
As of Wednesday morning, the fire was holding steady, but strong winds were forecasted again. The east flank of the fire, the one closest to Jean Marie River, seemed to be running parallel to the community. Lafferty said he understands five or six people chose to leave the community on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, a newly started fire, number 50 in the region, burnt down the N'Dulee ferry camp.
The fire destroyed a crew trailer and living facilities, an out building and the slipway for the ferry, said Earl Blacklock, the manager of public affairs and communications with the Department of Transportation.
The Johnny Berens ferry was not affected and its crew was not harmed. The captain had noticed embers and ordered the crew to remove their belongings from the trailer, said Blacklock. The ferry moved to the north side of the Mackenzie River before the fire hit the camp on the south side.
"The fire subsequently burnt the entire camp down," said Blacklock.
Prior to the fire, Highway 1 from km 477 to the crossing had already been closed due to heavy smoke conditions from a different fire.
The ferry landing is fine, so once the Department of Environment and Natural Resources gives the OK, the road and ferry will be reopened, Blacklock said.
Hot and dry conditions
On Tuesday, the fire located approximately 25 kilometres south of Wrigley, on the east side of the McConnell Range, was only being monitored because of winds blowing up to 40 kilometres per hour.
The goal of the approximately 65 people assigned to the fire is to keep it on the east side of the range, away from the community, Lafferty said.
Hot and dry conditions are expected to continue with no significant rain forecasted for the next 10 days. Smoky conditions were expected for Fort Simpson and Fort Liard.
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