GNWT issues warning after Wildrose flareup
Department of Environment and Natural Resources advising residents to take care when burning brush after fire smoulders Fort Simpson subdivision
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, November 24, 2016
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
Despite the late season, a Department of Environment and Natural Resources fire crew found themselves battling a ground fire earlier this week 400 metres from the entrance to the Wildrose Acres subdivision.
A brush fire outside the Wildrose subdivision near Fort Simpson has the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warning residents that even in winter, fires can smoulder and grow. - photo courtesy of Loyal Letcher
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Forestry manager Loyal Letcher said the fire was on track to be extinguished by Nov. 22.
It began after burning brush started smouldering into the debris lining the forest floor, known as duff.
Letcher said dry ground conditions have persisted even though there is snow on the ground.
"We're telling people to be careful - if they're going to be lighting fires this time of year, make sure they're fully out," he said.
Letcher said the department realized how dry conditions were a couple weeks ago when they were burning some brush piles around the subdivision.
"Usually they would go out this time of year but now what we've discovered is they're burning deep into the duff and they're continuing to burn and spread," he said.
The department put out the brush fires and Letcher directed them not to burn any more.
However, earlier this month a resident harvesting firewood burned the brush from the chopped tree, he said.
"They left it, and that started a ground fire as well, and it grew," Letcher said.
"It's smouldering and spreading, getting deeper and bigger."
As of Nov. 21, the fire was about 400 metres from the nearest residence at Wildrose Acres and measured roughly 10 metres by 20 metres.
