IJL – Réseau.Press – L’Aquilon
A firefighting helicopter crashed early Friday, June 28 in the Fort Good Hope area.
The RCMP announced that a helicopter had crashed in the area, without providing further information.
It was a few hours later that Mike Westwick, forest fire information officer for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, confirmed that the aerial incident occurred during management operations forest fires. “This is an emerging situation and the incident is being handled by the appropriate authorities,” he wrote in a short press release.
No information has been released yet regarding possible victims of the accident.
As of midday Friday, June 28, there were 19 fires burning in the NWT area, with the Fort Good Hope fire being the most concerning. This fire, which has been raging since mid-June and which remains out of control, has already ravaged 6,285 hectares. The proximity of the fire to the community resulted in an evacuation order in effect since June 15, with the fire reaching the boundaries of the community with no structures lost to date.
The situation remains the same as of June 29 at 11 a.m. according to the latest government communications.
The firefighting effort is extensive, involving three fire crews and two NWT fire technicians, supported by five Yukon Protective Services fire crews, five helicopters, one Electra aircraft and a water bombing group. A 22-person incident management team has been deployed to oversee the operation, with structural protection equipment in place to protect buildings in the community.
Dry weather continues to exacerbate the situation, with minimal relief from relative humidity even during the evenings. The forecast is for a maximum temperature of 28°C, with a minimum relative humidity of 25%, and no rain is forecast. Winds shift from southeast at 5-10 km/h, with gusts up to 15 km/h, to southwest at 10 km/h, with gusts up to 15-20 km/h All day long. These conditions are expected to continue the fire’s aggressive behavior, producing localized smoke that may be visible from the community.
Efforts are now focused on containing the fire perimeter facing the community, with a particular focus on the northward excursion.
A line of defense (CAT guard) was established towards the Rabbit Skin River, but the fire managed to breach this barrier. Crews and air support, including helicopter water drops and water bomber support, are working diligently to extinguish hot spots and prevent the fire from advancing. A 30 meter (100 foot) black line was created around the perimeter of the community, involving burning remaining combustibles and digging down to the ground to prevent the fire from spreading.
Helicopter water drop operations continue to make strategic drops to slow the growth of the fire toward the community and protect structures. The use of traditional knowledge was crucial in identifying suitable water sources for these efforts. An incident management team is fully operational, coordinating extensive firefighting and mitigation efforts to protect Fort Good Hope from this relentless wildfire.
Meanwhile, since Thursday, authorities have also been conducting a controlled burn near Fort Providence, about 40 kilometres north of the city. It is causing visible smoke in the area. Overseen by the GNWT with partners including the BC Wildfire Service and the Canadian Forest Service, the fire is part of a research effort aimed at strengthening FireSmart practices nationally.
The project evaluates the resistance of construction materials and the effectiveness of FireSmart treatments and sprinkler systems under severe fire conditions.
