NNSL (Jul 20/98) - Smoke and ash carried by high winds blanketed Yellowknife over the weekend as more than 100 fire fighters battled forest fires along the Ingraham Trail.

Due to the thick smoke, fire officials were unable to confirm how many cabins have been damaged but several Yellowknife residents fear their cabins on Tibbet Lake are gone.

"We're telling people to hope for the best but plan for the worst" said Dave Purchase, forest standards co-ordinator from Fort Smith.

An estimated 120,000 hectares have burned so far. The Reid Lake campground has been evacuated and closed except for as a base camp for fire fighters.

The fire was still in the Tibbet Lake area Sunday morning but as winds picked up the fire was moving towards Hidden Lake Sunday afternoon. At that time it was an estimated 60 kilometres from Yellowknife.

"The situation is totally dependent on the wind" said Nick Beauchamp, fire chief of the City of Yellowknife.

Wind conditions over the weekend were unfavorable. East and northeasterly winds brought the fire in the direction of the city, and smothering Yellowknife in ash and smoke. "The fire is not under control" said Beauchamp.

Fire officials were hoping to gain control of the fire by Sunday afternoon before it moved any closer to Prelude Lake. Earlier in the morning they utilized controlled burns and bombed the Cameron River area with fire retardant.

The main concern of fire fighters on Sunday was to secure the Prelude Lake area where there are many cabins and permanent residences. By Sunday afternoon, the fire was 12 kilometres away from the east side of Prelude Lake.

RCMP began a voluntary evacuation of Prelude Lake campground, although the area was not currently threatened by fire. Smoke could be a threat to people, especially those with health problems, said Beauchamp. Poor visibility on the road due to smoke is also considered a hazard.

A road block had been set up at Powder Point, and no one was being allowed past it on Sunday.

"There will be tanker drops along the road area," reported Purchase, "The less vehicles we have to worry about the better." RCMP were positioned at Yellowknife River to warn people on the road of the situation.

Every piece of available equipment in the NWT was being used on Sunday. Fire officials were preparing to call for CL215 reinforcements from Alberta.