Correction: A previous version of this article stated the most recent manmade wildfire was discovered on a beach near Deline. It was actually discovered near Norman Wells. SA国际影视传媒 regrets the error.

The GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) is advising residents to take extra precautions during what it predicts will be an especially dangerous week for wildfires.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e facing quite a serious challenge over the next week or so with some very serious fire weather across the entire territory,SA国际影视传媒� says ENR spokesperson Mike Westwick. SA国际影视传媒淎nd thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to lead to some natural (fire) starts, whether we like it or not. But what weSA国际影视传媒檙e calling on everyone across the territory (to do) is to take their responsibility very seriously to prevent human-caused fire whenever theySA国际影视传媒檙e out on the land over this next little bit so that we can minimize the activity that we have fire-wise and avoid needlessly putting firefighters in harmSA国际影视传媒檚 way and stretching resources.SA国际影视传媒�

Westwick says the next seven to 10 days will be at least as dry as the rest of the season, if not drier. That dryness, combined with SA国际影视传媒渞ecord heatSA国际影视传媒� in the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu regions, plus a lack of precipitation across the territory, will make for especially dangerous wildfire conditions.

Fire crews just recently extinguished the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 ninth confirmed human-caused wildfire of the year on a beach near Norman Wells. While crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire SA国际影视传媒� likely an abandoned campfire SA国际影视传媒� the blaze posed an extra danger because of its proximity to a human settlement.

As for residents of Yellowknife and other communities who can see smoke on the horizon, that smoke isnSA国际影视传媒檛 likely to dissipate any time soon. A release from ENR indicates that smoke in affected communities could last for several weeks. That smoke is especially risky to elderly residents and those with pre-existing conditions. Westwick says these residents should try to limit their outdoor activities while smoke is present and keep their windows closed, whenever possible.

Open-air fires are once again banned in Yellowknife, as ordered by city fire chief Nelson Johnson.

He says compliance with fire bans has generally been good this year, with an average of about one call every two weeks so far this season.

Usually, residents responsible for the fire department being dispatched are unaware of the rules, or unaware that a ban is in place. However, Johnson says ignorance wonSA国际影视传媒檛 grant violators a free pass.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 everybodySA国际影视传媒檚 responsibility to be informed,SA国际影视传媒� he says.

Despite the heightened risk of wildfires this week, Westwick says the territory is on track for a relatively average fire season.

Both Westwick and Johnson advised residents who have to start fires for food or warmth to practice the SA国际影视传媒渟oak-stir-soakSA国际影视传媒� method: Soak the fire, then stir it, then soak it again. Residents should use propane whenever possible, and never leave a fire unattended until itSA国际影视传媒檚 completely out.

SA国际影视传媒淲e havenSA国际影视传媒檛 quite figured out how to control lightning, but every single one of us has the ability to control whether person-caused fires start and whether we want to give firefighters a hand or decide to take a risk and make things worse,SA国际影视传媒� says Westwick.