Forest fire destroys Moraine Point Lodge on Great Slave Lake

Moraine Point Lodge, afishing lodge on the west side of Great Slave Lake, was destroyed by a forest fire this week.

N.W.T.'s Department of Environment and Natural Resources says strong winds caused part of the Birch Lake Complex,a massive 650,000 hectare fire southwest of Yellowknife, to jumpacross a bay near the lodge Saturday afternoon.

Fire crews were not able to access the areauntil Tuesday because to poor visibility due to smoke.By then, the lodge and outbuildings had been destroyed. ENR says the fire did not reach the commercial fish processing plant on Moraine Bay

The Birch Lake Complex is the largest fire burning in the territory, stretching from 80 km south of Behchokoto within 30 km north of Fort Providence along Highway 3.