The Yellowknife Fire Division and staff from the GNWT's Department of Environment and Climate Change fought a forest fire about 150 metres behind Stanton Territorial Hospital on Friday. It was declared out on Saturday, according to the City of Yellowknife.
"Upon arrival, crews estimated there to be a 10-square-metre fire consisting of pallets, with fire spread into the trees and underbrush within the vicinity," states the city's subsequent news release on Monday.
According to NWT Fire, this was human-caused, which municipal firefighters are investigating.
"Personnel successfully contained the fire to the area, deploying hose lines until the fire was extinguished," the release adds.
On Saturday, personnel were required to rush to another human-caused fire near the legislature. It was reportedly extinguished quickly and declared out. City firefighters are also investigating that incident.
NWT Fire issued a reminder that as this heatwave moves through the territory, "all residents must stay vigilant and do what they can to prevent person-caused wildfires."
There are still fire bans in place, both within the city and elsewhere in the territory. The Yellowknife Fire Division issued one ban on July 19 on open-air fires within Yellowknife. That measure will remain in effect until further notice, according to the city.
Regional fire restrictions against any open flames and other activities are also effective right now. Those are expected to last until Aug. 2, but could be extended if necessary, according to the GNWT.
"Other activities" in this case, includes:
-having open fire outdoors, including in an open fire pit or burn barrel
-discharging firearms with incendiary or tracer ammunition
-shooting or detonating exploding targets, fireworks or firecrackers
-igniting sky lanterns, signal flare devices or pyrotechnic bear bangers, unless in an emergency situation
-storing flare devices, bear bangers, fireworks, or firecrackers inn a way that may ignite them
Burn permits are also cancelled while this order is in effect.
