Fire information officer Sarah Hall says the window of positive weather has been helpful...
Crews spent the weekend working on the wildfires outside Wrigley and Fort Simpson, and while cooler temperatures and scattered rain have helped, community members will have to wait a bit longer before they can return home.
Fire information officer Sarah Hall says the window of positive weather has been helpful, allowing crews to establish 'black lines' — areas where all the available fuel is removed. But, that window may be closing in the coming days, as drying conditions return and temperatures creep up.
"Every day for this week, temperatures are going to slowly start to increase," said Hall. "
"There is a chance that fire behavior could increase when we have increased temperatures and as well as when our relative humidity goes down. It just means that our fuels are drying out again and are more susceptible to ignition."
In Wrigley, the southeastern line is now considered to be contained, fire information officer Shannon Graf said on Sunday afternoon. She added that the fire's size has increased, but to the west in the direction of Mount Gaudet and not towards Wrigley.
Over the weekend, a drone crew was deployed around Fort Simpson, using infrared heat sensors to track down hot spots and ash pits, which present not just a threat for fire, but for injury.
They may not look dangerous from the surface, but they can be two to four feet deep and are extremely hot. If someone were to step into one, it could cause serious injury," said Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation Chief Kele Antoine in a social media post on July 12. "These underground fires take time to find and fully extinguish, and that's one of the reasons crews are taking the time they need before everyone returns home. Your safety remains the priority."
Hall says N.W.T. Fire wants to make sure hotspots and other dangers, like ash pits, are no longer a hazard before residents return.
"There's still a lot of work to be done in terms of mopping up and patrolling," said Hall, adding that part of that calculation is making sure they won't have to leave again, once they return. "It is a really big step and we want to do it correctly."
Fort Simpson Mayor Les Wright said crews are actively working to restore power to the airport and a subdivision that had lost power.
"Still don't have a date for reentry," said Wright. "But as soon as it is deemed safe we will be ready."
-with files from CBC
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