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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
As of July 13, there were more than 100 wildfires burning in the NWT, but blazes in northern Alberta caused the most inconvenience for Northerners travelling last week.

A fire crossed Highway 35 in the Steen River area, about 40 km south of the NWT/Alberta border, and smoke from that and other blazes in northern Alberta, including a massive fire 12 km north of Zama, Alta., occasionally hindered visibility for motorists on the highway.

As a result, anyone heading into or leaving the NWT on Highway 35 - which ends at the NWT border and turns into Highway 1 - faced road closures of varying durations on July 8, 9 and 10. On July 10, Highway 1 was barricaded at Enterprise from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Earl Blacklock, manager of public affairs and communications with the Department of Transportation, said Highway 1 south of Enterprise has remained open since then.

However, Blacklock said motorists can expect delays in northern Alberta, and advised travellers to check for updates on the websites of the Alberta Motor Association and the Department of Transportation.

If necessary, roadblocks will be put up again on the advice of the RCMP in Hay River and High Level, Alta.

"The delays are, of course, caused by intermittent smoke and issues such as that," Blacklock said. "We're maintaining an eye on the situation, both (in Alberta) and in our own territory."

The department's main concern is that people will be able to transition through the fire zones as safely as possible.

On July 13, Judy McLinton, manager of public affairs and communications with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), said 105 wildfires were burning in the NWT, outside of national parks.

McLinton said none of those fires were threatening communities or highways, although smoke was occasionally being carried into some communities.

About a half-dozen of the fires were being actively fought, including a couple in the North Slave, one in the South Slave at Salt Mountain west of Fort Smith, and another in the Swan Lake area, about 25 km north of the NWT/Alberta border.

Boyd Warner, who lives on a homestead with his family along Highway 1 near the Swan Lake fire, said crews from ENR have done a remarkable job fighting the fire, which is mainly confined to the east side of the Hay River.

"They've just been really, really good," he said.

Warner said the firefighters set up sprinklers on his homestead and around about 12 cabins in the area, and their efforts saved one or two cabins when the fire jumped the river.

McLinton said the Swan Lake fire has burned about 8,700 hectares since it began in late May or early June, noting since then it flares up and dies down.

It is currently categorized as out of control, she said, although she added it is on the east side of the Hay River and not a threat to Highway 1. Plus, smoke from that fire has not interrupted traffic flow on the highway. As of late last week, crews from ENR were working on the northern section of the fire and more resources were planned to be brought in early this week.

McLinton predicted the fire season is far from over in the NWT.

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