The number of wildfires in the 2022 season is on track to more than double the five-year average, and is on the cusp of surpassing the ten-year average, according to forecasting by NWT Fire.
As of the afternoon of Monday, Aug. 15, there had been 199 fires in the territory since the beginning of the fire season on May 1. This works out to an average of about two new fires every day.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e having a busy fire season overall, the busiest weSA国际影视传媒檝e had in several years,SA国际影视传媒� says fire information officer Jessica Davey-Quantick.
She says this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 fire season is forecasted to have about 320 fires in total, which is more than double the five-year average of 136. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 also significantly higher than the ten-year average of 203.
Davey-Quantick acknowledges these numbers were a couple of weeks old as of the week of Aug. 15, and the final number could vary significantly in either direction. However, as of the afternoon of Monday, Aug. 15, the territory was just four fires away from surpassing the ten-year average.
The 72 fires that started between July 5 and 12 were more than the total number of fires seen in both the 2018 and 2020 seasons
This already-busy fire season was aggravated by this past weekendSA国际影视传媒檚 hot, dry weather.
This large number of fires compels fire crews to make difficult decisions about which fires to address, SA国际影视传媒渂ecause our territory is very large and our resources arenSA国际影视传媒檛,SA国际影视传媒� says Davey-Quantick.
The end of August is expected to be dangerous for wildfires as well, with hot, dry weather in the forecast. SA国际影视传媒淲e do have high-to-extreme fire danger currently in the North Slave and the South Slave, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to keep going,SA国际影视传媒� says Davey-Quantick. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e having a nice long fire season.SA国际影视传媒�
Given the high risk of fire, Davey-Quantick says residents should be especially careful while enjoying the outdoors.
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The Government of the Northwest Territories says fire crews are monitoring, but not fighting, a naturally-caused wildfire near What矛 that caused visible smoke as far away as Yellowknife.
On Monday, a towering plume of smoke could be seen on the horizon near Behchok谦虁. The smoke came from a holdover fire, labeled ZF060-22, which was believed to have been extenguished before re-emerging from underground. The fire is located immediately west of Marian Lake, about 38 kilometres southeast of What矛. That latter community is expected to bear the brunt of the smoke and ash, according to NWT Fire.
Despite the alarming visual, NWT Fire says crews are monitoring but not actively fighting the fire, since no cabins or other infrastructure are believed to be at risk. SA国际影视传媒淔ireSA国际影视传媒檚 a natural part of our ecosystem; It is important for it to happen,SA国际影视传媒� says Davey-Quantick. SA国际影视传媒淪o a lot of times, what happens is, as long as there are no values at risk, no communities at risk, crews will let fires burn out: TheySA国际影视传媒檒l control them, theySA国际影视传媒檒l monitor them, theySA国际影视传媒檒l make sure they stay within fire lines, so everyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 safe.SA国际影视传媒�
