SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The city's extremely dry conditions and high winds are "an accident waiting to happen," according to deputy fire chief Gerda Groothuizen, and officials are doing everything they can to make sure a fire like the one that hit Slave Lake, Alta., on May 15 isn't replicated in the North.

The fire department is now responding to calls with both fire trucks and tanker trucks, which allows them to carry 2,500 more gallons of water to the scene.

"We're on high alert," Groothuizen said.

In addition, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is on standby to provide backup if a fire is too big to be contained with the fire department's resources.

Judy McLinton, a department spokesperson, said the department has helicopters with water buckets available to provide air support, and is advising municipalities on whether they should issue fire bans.

This past month has been unusually warm and dry in Yellowknife, with only 7.4 mm of precipitation, and an average temperature of 7.1 C.

The historical average precipitation for the city in May is 19.1 mm and the average daily temperature is 5.6 C.

Environment Canada meteorologist Yvonne Bilan-Wallace said some rain is expected Thursday, but that there will be more sun come the weekend.

"This might not bode very well for your fire situation," she said.

Bilan-Wallace noted there are other factors that can contribute to a forest fire, like strong winds, which add power and speed to a blaze, or lightning, which sparks more blazes in the North than anything else.

McLinton said Yellowknifers should use extreme caution and remember that any ember, even one from a cigarette butt, could start a fire.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the city's emergency plan, which is overseen by himself and the city administrator, is top notch and ready to roll out if a fire were to happen in the area.

He cites the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 as an example, when a plane was diverted to land at Yellowknife.

"It was really amazing. It was like watching a well-oiled precision watch in operation," he said of the city's response, when they had to feed and accommodate people on such short notice.

The open-air burning ban that went into effect last Thursday is still in place, and includes the use of approved pits as well as all outdoor spaces within the city.

Fred Henne Territorial Park and Yellowknife River Park are also included, and according to Groothuizen, they had few problems enforcing the ban over the weekend.

"For the most part people were really good. They listened to the ban and they ensured that there were no fires," she said.

"This is not about putting people at a disadvantage. What this is about is the safety of our community."

All fires, contained or not, should be reported at 1-877-NWT-FIRE.

For more information, visit www.nwtfire.com.

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