A wildfire near Fort Smith, N.W.T., is now under control, meaning it’s not expected to grow beyond its current boundaries, according to N.W.T. Fire.
The Northwest Territories’ fire agency made the declaration Sunday evening around 7 p.m., adding that some “mop-up work” is still required and that those in the area should continue to remain cautious.
The town had been on evacuation alert for a period of time Saturday for a wildfire started around Primrose Lane and Carl’s Drive, within a few hundred metres of homes, according to Mike Westwick, manager of wildfire prevention and mitigation with the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
The fire is suspected to be human-caused.
“It’s really discouraging to see events like this start so early in the season after what we’ve experienced over the last couple of years,” Westwick said.
Wildfire season in the N.W.T. began May 1.
The territory’s wildfire fighters battled the fire, which grew to be about four hectares, alongside the Town of Fort Smith and Parks Canada.
N.W.T. Fire is expected to announce an outlook on the territory’s fire season Monday afternoon in a news conference. Westwick said they are so far seeing hot dry conditions in the southwest of the Northwest Territories, particularly near Fort Liard. He said they are also paying special attention to fires on the B.C. side of the border.
