SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two tent frames caught fire at Blachford Lake Lodge and Conference Resort on Sunday, causing pulses to race and a helicopter to be dispatched from Yellowknife in fear of the fire spreading in the dry conditions.

The fire spread from the lodge, located 97 km southeast of Yellowknife, to engulf about a quarter-hectare of boreal forest, but by the time two Department of Environment and Natural Resources firefighters landed by helicopter, the fire was mostly out.

"Blachford Lake Lodge employees put the fire out themselves with fire extinguishers, two water pumps and hoses," said Roger Fraser, manager of forests for the North Slave.

"I have worked closely with Blachford Lake Lodge over the past two years and have done quite a bit of fire prevention at the lodge," said Fraser, though he added there are "no guarantees with

fires."

The owner of Blachford Lake Lodge was happy with his employees' response to the fire.

"Employees put into place our fire sequence plan and had the fire under control by the time ENR arrived by helicopter," said owner Mike Freeland.

"One tent frame was used for storage and another was a staff tent. Both have electricity running to them, but no one was in them at the time the fire started."

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

"We suspect with the wind wash from helicopters that day (it) created a spark that may have blown onto one or both of the tents, causing the fire to start," said Freeland. The cost estimate of damages is approximately $15,000, according to Freeland.

He believes that his work with ENR to thin out the brush piles and underbrush in the area around the tents is the reason the fire didn't get out of control.

Fraser warned that the fire danger rating is currently high.

"There is very dry underbrush out there, which makes this a critical part of the year to watch for fires. Be careful out there and make sure your campfire is completely out and cigarette butts are not left burning," said Fraser.

The NWT's neighbours are currently facing an already devastating fire season.

On May 15, 40 per cent of the town of Slave Lake, Alberta, was destroyed by fire that covered 700 hectares of land and is still considered out of control. Almost 7,000 residents have been evacuated from the town.

Strong winds combined with a lack of precipitation are creating extreme fire conditions over most of northern Alberta.

There were 115 fires in Alberta burning with 36 of those considered out of control, as of Monday.

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