The Town of Fort Smith is making careful preparations for the rapidly approaching wildfire season, according to senior administrative officer (SAO) Tracy Thomas.

SA国际影视传媒淲e will be prepared,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e making sure we have very fluid planning in place so we can pivot as needed and accommodate any changes [that occur].

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e doing everything within our power to ensure weSA国际影视传媒檙e ready for everything.SA国际影视传媒�

Community staff recently completed an after-action review of the summer 2023 wildfire evacuation, and are SA国际影视传媒渋mplementing the recommendations that were developed following that review,SA国际影视传媒� said Thomas, which was among councilSA国际影视传媒檚 top priorities for the year.

The townSA国际影视传媒檚 emergency management plan has also been updated and shared publicly through several channels, while residents are being encouraged to download and test the Alertable app, which is designed to keep users apprised of threats like wildfires. Community leaders also have plans for regular meetings with the Local Emergency Management Organization (LEMO) SA国际影视传媒渢o ensure that all partners are working together for preparation and prevention.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition to these measures, the community has instituted a partial fire ban.

SA国际影视传媒淭he current partial fire ban is a preventive measure in reaction to the current conditions of very low precipitation and high fire risk conditions prevailing,SA国际影视传媒� said Thomas. SA国际影视传媒淔ollowing the recent update by GNWT on the prolonged drought conditions, it was considered prudent to initiate a partial fire ban. We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly.SA国际影视传媒�

Last summerSA国际影视传媒檚 wildfires forced residents of Fort Smith to evacuate for roughly five weeks. It was deemed safe for them to return home on Sept. 18, but after more than seven months SA国际影视传媒� and a winterSA国际影视传媒檚 worth of snow SA国际影视传媒� small SA国际影视传媒渉oldover firesSA国际影视传媒� continue to burn in the region, thanks to a phenomenon called SA国际影视传媒渙verwinter action.SA国际影视传媒�

However, the situation is currently under control, according to Mike Westwick, wildfire information officer with the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Environment and Climate Change.

SA国际影视传媒淭his isnSA国际影视传媒檛 new,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淯ltimately, the message is that this is kind of overwintering activity is to be expected after a season where we saw a lot of [fire] activity.

SA国际影视传媒淥ften, this is happening in areas which have already burned through and there are limited forest fuel pathways to lead to challenges to people and property.SA国际影视传媒�

While the holdover fires around Fort Smith are under control at present, the region is being closely monitored via infrared scanning missions, which can detect areas that are still smouldering, even if they are not visible to the naked eye.

SA国际影视传媒淭here were huge areas which burned last year SA国际影视传媒� some near communities,SA国际影视传媒� Westwick said. SA国际影视传媒淭here are infrared scanning missions underway to seek out any remaining hot areas and take appropriate action along the edges of these fires which were closest to communities and infrastructure.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese scanning missions are going to give us the targets to use to take action as needed.SA国际影视传媒�

Westwick said his department has also been monitoring overwinter activity SA国际影视传媒渂etween Yellowknife and Behchoko, outside Fort Liard, along the route of the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road outside of Tulita,SA国际影视传媒� and around the communities of Enterprise and Hay River.

Much like Fort Smith, Hay River has implemented a long list of measures to prepare for the threat of more fire, including the creation of new fire evacuation plans and efforts to improve communication with residents.

SA国际影视传媒淎 significant amount of fuel in the area was burnt during that wildfire [last year],SA国际影视传媒� said Glenn Smith, the townSA国际影视传媒檚 SAO in reference to the expansive swaths of trees that were consumed last year. SA国际影视传媒淲e wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 expect to see anything of the same magnitude without that fuel, but it is supposed to be dry. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e still in drought conditions, and we expect that throughout the summer, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 important that people be diligent because fires can start anywhere.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think the public can see that there is a lot of work being done, which should calm some fear,SA国际影视传媒� he added.