Northwest Territories residents prepare for 2015 fire season

With four forest fires already burning in the Northwest Territories, residents are preparing for another big fire season.

Last year's season was the worst on record in the territory, with the government spending more than $56 million to combat fires that burned more than 3 million hectares.

Expectations this year are for another hot, dry summer, according to the Canadian Forest Service.

• Related:N.W.T. fire season forecast to start early, burn hot in May and June
• Related:2014 N.W.T. fire season report: What you need to know

Cabin ownerssuch asRussellChaseare preparing for the season by clearing trees, low-lying branches, and brush from around their properties.

Chase says he hopes to get work on his cabinoutside the community of Enterprisecompleted this summer so that he can live in it in the winter. Given the amount of love and work he's put into building it, he says hewants to keep it safe.

"It'll make you think about clearing it," says Chase. "If you put that [brush] in the fire, it's like fuel. It's scary how fast it burns."

The fire risk isn't just in outlying areas, says Hay River Fire Chief Ross Potter. People living withinmunicipalitiesneed to be ready and aware as well.

"All it takes to really get a fire going is a pop bottle in a grassy area," says Potter. "Sun reflects through the bottle, and that can cause a fire.

"It's really dry out there. Even the muskeg is powdery."

Potter says that, generally, people in Hay River keep their homes in good order, but some properties could use some work.

He advises that people keep their grass short, not throw away lit cigarettes, and not park ATVs in high grass during fire season.