LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
The hamlet, the Department of Natural Resources and the Northwest Territories Power Corporation are teaming up this summer to protect Fort Simpson from fires.

Loyal Letcher, regional forests manager for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, left, and forest fire technician Michael Tsetso ran a FireSmart booth outside the Northern store in Fort Simpson on May 7. - NNSL file photo

The three organizations are looking to start a FireSmart Program committee to pick out areas where they can run the program.

"FireSmart's been going on for quite a few years," said Pat Rowe, the deputy fire chief in Fort Simpson. "It's with the GNWT and the municipalities."

The program essentially protects property by removing trees and brush from around buildings.

On June 8, Letcher gave a presentation to community members discussing Fort Simspon's wildfire emergency plan, as well as the importance of FireSmarting properties.

"My concern is that people's houses are right in the bush. If a fire started under the right conditions ... it's going to be hard to attack, unless people do more," said Loyal Letcher, regional forests manager for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

No one from the Environmental and Natural Resources was available for comment for this story before press time.

"FireSmart recommendations reduce the risk of wildfire to your property, community and neighbourhood, and help firefighters to defend your home," states the organization's website.

"We've done - over the years - quite a bit of work with FireSmart in the past," said Rowe.

The point of the committee locating the areas best to run a FireSmart Program is to encourage everyone to clean up all material - such as dry grass and bush - within a distance of nine metres from the house.

"This brush presents a fire hazard that easily burn or destroy your home," says one poster about the proposed committee.

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