N.W.T. fire update: Smoky conditions expected to worsen

People in Yellowknife woke up to the familiar smell of smoke this morning, and the Northwest Territories' manager of forest resources says the conditions are going to get worse across the territory.

Mike Gravel says fires in B.C., Alberta, Yukon, Alaska and the southern part of the territory are to blame.

"Smoke carries a long, long distance, so just because there's smoke in the air doesn't mean there's something very close to the community," Gravel said.

Gravel added that crewsare stretched, with 35new fires starting this week all the way from Inuvik to Fort Smith.

"It's very dry," he said."It's very, very challenging for our firefighters.

"The guys have to go farther for water, so the time is longer.They're having to work more with hand tools, which makes the job even that much more difficult. So it's just a very, very challenging summer so far."

Thelast thing crewsneedto be dealing with, said Gravel, is person-caused fires.

"People need torecognizejust how dangerous the situation is."

Success in 'critical areas'

Despite the smoky conditions, Gravel says crews in the territory have successfully contained eightfires in"critical areas,"close toYellowknife,Enterprise, FortLiard,NahanniButteand Fort McPherson. All thosefires have been brought under controlor put out.

Crews are now fighting four fires that have gotten out of control, along Highways 1, 5 and 6. Gravel says those fires aren't threatening communities, but have the potential to grow and cause impacts on roads.

Gravel saidthey've had to look east for outside resources. Ontario has sent in air tankers to help, and Gravel hopes theywill sendmore firefighters to help alleviate the strainon local crews.

Western Canada, said Gravel,is dealing with the same weather as the N.W.T., so there are no resources closer to hometo spare.

Gravel also encouraged anyone who receivedfirefightingtraining in the territory this spring to get in touch with the territory's departmentofEnvironment and Natural Resources.