Yellowknife (July 12/04) - Lightning strikes over the weekend sparked a number of forest fires in the North Slave region. Crews from Yellowknife were sent out to help battle 15 fires burning North of Rae-Edzo.

A helicopter drops its payload on a forest fire. At one point on Saturday there were 15 fires burning in the North Slave. - Daniel T'seleie/NNSL photo

"We anticipate most of these (fires) will be under control in a day or two," said Lance Schmidt, manager of forests with the Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, on Saturday. Indeed most fires were under control by Sunday morning, with only nine left burning in the North Slave region.

Schmidt said it's too early to tell how bad this year's season will be, but the ground is drier in some areas of the North Slave than he's ever seen before.

"We've really had no rain for two months, which is rare," said Schmidt. "Most of the snow left without going into the ground. Three-quarters of it went before the temperatures even went above zero."

The combination of dry conditions and lightening had around 50 fire fighters from all the Dogrib communities and Yellowknife working to control the blazes, one as close as 32 kilometres to Rae-Edzo. Also working the fires were four water bombers, one DC-4 and four helicopters.

Several of the fires were considered "out of control" according to Schmidt.

"'Out of control' doesn't mean wild flames," Schmidt said. A fire is dubbed "controlled" after senior forestry personnel have inspected it and are confident it will not flare up again.

"Once it's under control you want to hear a 'fire out' a short time after that," Schmidt said.

No danger in Rae

The fires close to Rae are under control or out. "We're doing well there," Schmidt said, and the community is not in any danger.

But nonetheless, the weekend events are reminiscent of the 1998 fire season, when 165,000 hectares burned near Tibbitt Lake.

The fire destroyed several cabins, shut down the Ingraham Trail for several weeks, and put Yellowknife in a state of alert as the fire reached within 70 km of the city.

"We've never been this nervous this early," Schmidt told around 20 firefighters gathered at the department's Old Town base for a safety briefing Thursday.

He warned crews to be extra vigilant when out in the field, noting that a fire could easily turn on them and cut them off from safety if wind conditions were to change.

"It's just because of the drying conditions we've had to date, and there doesn't appear to be a quick end in sight, that we felt we just better have another chat with the crews," said Schmidt.

"After '98 and Norman Wells last year, it's those sort of events that make you nervous."

Fire crew chief Mike Morin said he doesn't doubt they will be busy this summer. He thinks this year has the potential for another heavy burn in the North Slave.

"Lots of fires, it's going to be hot," said Morin.

Initial attack

"We don't want any flare ups," said Peter Crookedhand, crew chief of Yellowknife's initial attack crew B while on scene of a freshly fought fire North of Rae.

His crew was sent out Friday morning to battle the blaze and it took until Saturday afternoon before they where ready to return.

"It's already bombed first," Crookedhand said explaining his crew only moved in after the airborne attack was through.

The crew is dropped after retardant is sprayed to calm the blaze. Their first task is to build a helicopter landing pad for future use. Then it's time to attack the fire with water pumped from a nearby lake.

"You try to go around the fire so it doesn't take off on you," said crew member Peter Charlo.

Their work is not done once the flames are gone though.

"It'll burn underground," Crookedhand said. "You have to flush it right out of the ground."

It is common for crews to camp out overnight on scene of a fire after they have put it out he said. That way they can be sure it will not flare up again.

With three years experience each both Crookedhand and Charlo agree this is already looking like a bad fire season.