Hay River's Paradise Valley, Patterson Road under voluntary evacuation notice
Fire situation 'improved' Tuesday, says town's fire department
The fire situation has "improved considerably" from last night, according to the Hay River, N.W.T., fire department.
In a situation report issued this afternoon, the department sayswinds are blowing from the west "which works in our favour."
Hay River's Paradise Valley and Patterson Road areas, south of the town, are under a voluntary evacuation noticeafter heavy smoke and falling ash moved into the community late last night.
The situation report says N.W.T. Environment and Natural Resources are working on the fire, to try and stop it from "advancing toward the river and the values at risk in the Corridor area."
It says there is no threat at this time to the town of Hay River proper, or the old town and west channel.
An advisory asking residents to prepare for an evacuationwas issued Sunday night by the town's Emergency Management Organization asa precaution. After the fire made an unexpected move late Monday evening, the voluntary evacuation noticewas issued.
On Monday, fire crewsperformed a controlled burn on the river's east side in an attempt to stop the fire from advancing into the area.
'There hasn't been any indication of where we should go'
Sandra Lester, who lives in the areas under the voluntary evacuation notice, says the fire chief called a family member Monday eveningasking if they had a place to stay. She's surprised that more formal plans have not been made public by the fire department.
"Common sense tells youyou're going to go to town because there's no other place to go," she said.
"But it just seems like there should have been. . .I mean, with all the time we've known that it's coming, there hasn't been any indication of where we should go, where people should register so they know if everyone's out of their places and stuff like that."
Lester said that she does have a place to stay if she were to leave but for the time being, her family has decided to stay home, making a call if they see the fire getting too close.
Greg Haist, who lives in the Paradise area, says that he has "some friends [he could probably go see].
"I'm not too concerned about that part of it, I guess," he said."I've got camping stuff in the truck.I was just camping the last week soI just left it in the truck. So I could go pitch a tent somewhere if I have to."
On the K'atl'odeeche reserve near Hay River, preparations are also being made in case an evacuation is needed. People are being told asiren will sound in the event of an emergency, and if people hear it, they should meet at the school.
"Right now there's no danger, the fire's still a little ways away," said Chief Roy Fabian. "We're just telling people be prepared in case things turn around."
Government clearing fire guard
Currently, the voluntary evacuation only affects Paradise Valley and Patterson Road, two rural areas south of the communityof Hay River, which has a population of about 3,600.
However, the territorial government says wind could move the fire toward the townover the next couple of days.
Andrew Cassidy, Hay River's mayor, saidSunday night's advisory was meant to get people prepared in the event there is a need to evacuate.
"I think that was the whole pointto let people knowthere could be an evacuation notice, and to give people time to prepare, or at least just start to mentally start to prepare themselves if there is an evacuation order," he said.
The fire department says it will continue to advise peopleas the situation progresses.
Jean Marie River, N.W.T., a community of about 70 in the Dehcho region,has also been advised to be prepared for a possible evacuation due toforest fire.
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