Yellowknife firefighters invest in wildfire tools, training

Yellowknife firefighters have invested in new equipment, designed to assist in case a wildland fire encroaches on the city and threatens homes.

DarcyHernblad, chief of the Yellowknife fire department,says his crews have also had two weeks of training on how to better protect homes from wildfires.

"Based after the year we had last year, we need to do a little bit more to make sure we're on top of our game," saysHernblad. "We've always asked [the Department of Environment and Natural Resources]to come in and help with urbanwildlandfires, but we need to take some ownership ourselves."

The new sprinkler kits are mounted on red metal triangles, and are designed to sit on a roof. The sprinklers are designed to soak the area around ahome if a wildfire moves towards it, preventing any sparks from starting a fire.

The sprinklers are compatible with similar equipment used by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR).

34 fires so far

Unseasonably dry weather has led to a busy month of May for wildfires across the territory.Thirty-four fires have been reported in the N.W.T. so far this season, compared to about fivefires in May of last year.

A mandatory fire ban was issued yesterday by the City of Yellowknife, and territorial government officials warned that Highway 3, thesole road connection from the south to communities in the North Slave region, including Yellowknife, may close with little warning due to smoke. The highway remains open as of Tuesday morning.

Hernblandalso says thedepartment will begin to work onFireSmartingthe city, beginning with an area around Parker Park.