Blaze could reach NWT capital by weekend, 20,000 residents leave; one mining camp burned, wildfires disrupt entire mining sector.

The already severe fire conditions across the Great Slave Lake region of Northwest Territories has taken a turn for the worse, prompting Canadian officials to order the 20,000 residents of Yellowknife to evacuate the territorial capital.

Northwest Territories Minister of Environment and Climate Change Shane Thompson said "the fire burning west of Yellowknife (is) now representing a real threat to the city."

He said that if rain does not assist the firefighting situation, the wildfire could reach Yellowknife by the weekend.

In addition to the wildfire west of Yellowknife, there are two fires to the north and one fire to the east of the capital city. There are also several fires burning south of Great Slave Lake, including one on the outskirts of the town of Hay River and another near Highway 1 south of Enterprise.

"We're all tired of the word unprecedented, yet there is no other way to describe this situation in the Northwest Territories," Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane said in an August 16 statement.

This unprecedented situation includes an order for the complete evacuation of Yellowknife and surrounding areas on the north side of Great Slave Lake, as well as the communities of Enterprise, Fort Smith, Hay River, and the K'atl'odeeche First Nation area on the south side of the lake.

"This means that if you are able to evacuate by road, obey all warning signs, emergency management officials, traffic control devices and posted speed limits," Cochrane said. "Do not make any rash decisions that can put other people in danger."

Disrupting NWT mining sector

In addition to being home to Northwest Territories' government, Yellowknife serves as the hub for mining across much of Canada's Far North.

Yellowknife is itself a mining town that grew around the Con and Giant gold mines on the outskirts of the city and continues to be an important hub for the Diavik, Ekati, and Gahcho Kué diamond mines to the north.

Over the last couple of years, the Northwest Territories capital has emerged as a potential northern link in North America's electric vehicle supply chain due to a cobalt deposit west of the city and the rich stores of lithium and Canada's only rare earths mine to the east.

Earlier this week, Li-FT Power Ltd. announced the evacuation of the camp supporting its large lithium exploration program about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Yellowknife.

As of Tuesday, two fires were burning near Li-FT's Hidden Lake Camp – the Ingraham Trail Fire about 18 kilometers (11 miles) to the northwest and the Dettah Fire about 26 kilometers (16 miles) to the southwest.

Although the fires were not an immediate risk to the camp at the time, smoky conditions were interfering with drilling operations, and the company said winds were expected to present challenging conditions for firefighting crews over the coming days.

Li-FT said it is working with the Government of the Northwest Territories to support local firefighting efforts and has released a helicopter to assist in the campaign.

"Our thoughts are with the people who have been evacuated from their homes and communities and with the fire crews that are working tirelessly to protect the Northwest Territories," said Li-FT Power CEO Francis MacDonald.

One of the Yellowknife area fires has already burned through the camp and mine at Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd.'s Mon property about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the NWT capital.

Sixty North Gold Mining President and CEO Dave Webb and crew left the camp on Aug. 11 when the fire was about three kilometers (less than two miles) away. Satellite images from Aug. 15 show that the fire had burned through the camp that supports exploration and mine development at Mon.

The company has filed a potential claim with its insurance company, but with emergency orders in place across NWT and all available aircraft dedicated to the firefighting effort, it may be a while before the entirety of the damage can be assessed.

Situation has changed quickly

While the devastating wildfire situation is disrupting mining and mineral exploration across NWT, a problem that will escalate exponentially if the blaze burns through the city, the immediate concern is for the people in harm's way.

NWT Premier Cochrane called for residents to take immediate but orderly action when it comes to evacuating Yellowknife.

"We're all in this together, but individually we choose how to react. I know this is a situation full of uncertainty, but we must take steps to stay calm and not make any decisions that will put those around us in danger," she urged. "This means that if you are able to evacuate by road, obey all warning signs, emergency management officials, traffic control devices and posted speed limits. Do not make any rash decisions that can put other people in danger."

By Wednesday afternoon, Highway 3 was bumper-to-bumper with vehicles carrying people and their most prized possessions out of Yellowknife.

The towns of Hay River and Enterprise on the south side of Great Slave Lake have already been evacuated.

"The situation has changed quickly. Strong winds have blown the fire within 10 km (6 miles) of the community. It is anticipated the fire will reach Hay River this evening," Northwest Territories Fire said in a Facebook update Wednesday evening. "Crews that were in the path of the fire are pulling off for their own safety and are re-positioning to assist in other areas."

Cochrane said she spoke with Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday.

"He assured me that the GNWT (government of Northwest Territories) has the Canadian government's full support, and that they will assist in any way they can," she said.

For now, however, her main concern is the safety and well-being of the territories' residents.

Government of Northwest Territories

"We will get through this," she said. "Now more than ever is the time to ask for help if you need it and to work together."

Author Bio

Shane Lasley, Publisher

Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.

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