NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
With Environment Canada predicting a warmer than normal summer and dry conditions from last year continuing into 2015, the territory could face a forest fire season similar to 2014.

Cadence Erasmus, left, and Jaicee and Nylaina Tsetso couldn't stand the heat in Fort Simpson May 14. The community recently broke a 118-year-old record after a five day heat wave brought temperatures in the high 20s for several days in a row in the middle of May. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Several areas in the NWT broke temperature records last week with Fort Liard being the hotspot - temperatures reached 30 degrees on May 11, "clobbering" the previous record of 26.5 degrees in 1980.

"This may just be an opening act, kind of a dress rehearsal of the kind of summer that you might very well see," said David Phillips, senior climatologist for Environment Canada.

Hay River, Norman Wells and Fort Simpson also saw record highs for this month.

"Records at Fort Simpson are kind of important because they go back 118 years, right back to the 1800s," explained Phillips.

"So we're seeing temperatures on the 10 and 11 (of May) that we've certainly not seen ever in 118 years."

It was 26.9 C on May 10 and 27.5 degrees on May 11.

Although the recent warmth feels nice following the winter months NWT residents may wish temperatures had stayed normal, he continued.

"I often think the weather you're blessing right now, you're cursing later. You might say, 'Oh gee, if there hadn't been that warm period in May and very dry conditions we wouldn't have the wildfires that we have.' But we have to wait and see," he said, adding the amount, type and timing of precipitation will greatly determine the severity of the forest fire season.

"We just don't have good models to tell be able to tell us what that precipitation is going to be and that's the unfortunate thing because that's where all the action is going to be."

Richard Olsen, manager of fire operations for Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), stated in an e-mail to News/North that in most of the Southern NWT snow cover conditions are normal to below normal and there have not been any significant rain events this spring.

"Under these conditions the likelihood of deep burning persistent fires, which are difficult to control, exists," he explained.

ENR is actively monitoring the fire environment on a continual basis and has plans in place to assess and respond to all new wildfire starts."

ENR releases review of record fire season

In 2014, the NWT blew its fire program annual budget of $7.5 million, spending $56.1 million to fight 385 fires.

Nearly 3.4 million hectares of forest was affected, highways were closed, places evacuated and two properties destroyed.

The fires were able to burn deeply and intensely because of drought conditions faced by the territory. Temperatures were also high.

The department should be better prepared for this season as a "thorough" review was conducted to find areas of improvement in terms of fire operations policies, practices and procedures.

"While we responded effectively to the challenges of a difficult fire season with no serious injuries or fatalities to firefighters, residents or visitors," stated ENR Minister Michael Miltenberger in a news release.

"We recognize the need to constantly improve our operations to meet our mandate of protection of human life, property, natural and cultural resources from wildfire."

The report, which was released May 5 and can be found online, was based on feedback from 24 open houses held in NWT communities, department meetings with aboriginal and community governments as well as other stakeholders and staff debriefings.

The review lays out key lessons learned during the record fire season.

Staffing during wildfires

Last year the NWT relied on fire crews from Alaska and across Canada to fight the blazes.

Personnel often had to work up to 19 days consecutively because of the lengthy and challenging fire season.

Concerns about the demands placed on workers during this time, have prompted ENR to take steps to increase support for these workers.

In order to boost recruitment, the department is increasing pay rates for extra personnel (EFFs) this fire season.

It is also developing an inventory of GNWT employees with relevant experience and training who can be called on during busy fire seasons.

The other step the department is taking is to shift from 28 five-person firefighting crews to 36 four-person crews for the 2016 fire season.

ENR had planned to make the transition last year but the unprecedented fire season and current contracts stalled the initiative.

Communicating with the public

Going forward, the report states the department needs to strengthen communication with residents and media to ensure clear, consistent and accurate information gets out.

ENR has committed to improving its social media presence and websites, designating a fulltime public education and communications specialist and translating fire information signage into indigenous languages by 2016.

Signs in the Tlicho language have already been made.

There is also a need to educate the public about ENR's approach to fire management, the report reads.

"There is a public expectation ENR will be able to protect all property, at all times, which simply isn't possible in an extreme fire season . Under the NWT Forest Fire Management Policy, the protection of human life takes precedence over all other values."

Last year, ENR personnel were tasked with 93 value protection operations to save cabins, camps and lodges. There were losses, such as cabins at Hoarfrost River and Moraine Point.

"Many communities and property-owners need to accept more responsibility to help in protecting their infrastructure or property through protection plans and/or FireSmart efforts," the report states.

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