The NWT experienced 139 wildfires in 2021, with close to 52 per cent of them requiring a response from territorial resources.
Much of the season was spent at high alert as the greater part of the territory sustained record temperatures and heat domes that made for very dangerous fire conditions, according to a recent overview from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) forest management division.
The fires needing a response were about 10 per cent higher than normal due to dry weather conditions in the Dehcho, North Slave and Inuvik regions.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Beaufort Delta region actually had the most amount of fires in NWT, which is really, really unusual,SA国际影视传媒� said Richard Olsen, manager of the forest management division. SA国际影视传媒淥f those 36 fires, they had to action 27 over a period of up to two to three weeks.SA国际影视传媒�
This extraordinary occurrence was SA国际影视传媒渞eally indicative of the climatic conditions over the last couple of years within (the region),SA国际影视传媒� he added.
The Beaufort Delta situation could improve due to the precipitation that is predicted to come up through B.C. and the Yukon, which should give the area a good amount snow and rain over the coming months.
Of the 139 fires in the NWT in 2021, 12.2 per cent SA国际影视传媒� or 16 incidents SA国际影视传媒� were human-caused.
Within that 12.2 per cent, there were three abandoned campfires and three escaped campfires that spread, two were a result of dump fires, and smoking (discarded cigarettes or tobacco), powerlines, lighters and a vehicle all caused at least one blaze.
Three fires were as a result of unknown circumstances and one was caused by an unknown incendiary device.
The NWT also dispatched staff and equipment to various provinces, including Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec to provide assistance.
SA国际影视传媒淚t speaks to the professionalism of our staff and is crucial to our own wildfire management strategy SA国际影视传媒� because when we need help some day, a whole community will be there to back us up,SA国际影视传媒� stated Mike Westwick, ENRSA国际影视传媒檚 manager of communications.
The department took a revamped communications approach that highlighted information on basic prevention practices, the dangers of wildfire and staying safe while on the land. There was also an appeal to the SA国际影视传媒渟ocial and community values of residents across the NWT to make these actions really feel like the right thing to do.SA国际影视传媒�
The campaigns spanned social, radio, and print media, reaching more than 78,000 unique users on Facebook and Instagram, and generated more than two million impressions throughout the wildfire season SA国际影视传媒� nearly 500 per cent more than last year.
As well, the emergency firefighter training program in August geared towards 20 women and non-binary individuals will make a return when the summer months roll around again.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at whether we would deliver it within multiple regions, with the intent of delivering at least one of those training type opportunities, likely sometime next June,SA国际影视传媒� said Olsen.
Westwick added, SA国际影视传媒淲e were really happy about the turnout and engagement (in August), and will be looking for more ways to help folks who may have felt intimidated in the past see themselves serving their communities in rewarding forest management careers,SA国际影视传媒� said Westwick.
With regards to the upcoming winter season, Olsen said SA国际影视传媒渢hereSA国际影视传媒檚 still work to be undertakenSA国际影视传媒� surrounding long-term forecasting.
SA国际影视传媒淭he primary place that we look, Environment Canada, is indicating that the warmer temperatures that weSA国际影视传媒檙e enjoying this fall in large parts of the NWT is going to disappear as we get into late November, December, January with below normal temperatures for portions of the Western NWT, probably along the average for central NWT,SA国际影视传媒� said Olsen. SA国际影视传媒淎nd itSA国际影视传媒檚 looking like there might be elevated heat temperatures as you move towards Nunavut and Eastern Canada.SA国际影视传媒�
