Wildfire 'highly likely' to reach Behchokǫ̀ overnight as strong winds force it west

The wildfire threatening Behchokǫ̀ has now breached the access road at Frank Channel and is nearing the community, N.W.T. Fire said in a critical update just before 8:45 p.m. Tuesday night.

"As the fire continues to be driven by these ferocious winds, it is highly likely to reach the community overnight," fire information officer Mike Westwick wrote in an email.

The community of about 2,000 people, which is about 100 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife, has been under an evacuation order since Monday. While most have left for Yellowknife, some stayed behind.

On Facebook, Behchokǫ̀ senior administrative officer Pushp Seth wrote that everyone in Rae must head for Bay Island.

Westwick described the fire taking an "extraordinary run driven by winds reaching up to 50 kilometres per hour."

'This does not mean the community is lost'

The fire, which was 22 kilometres from the community earlier today, closed that distance rapidly. On Tuesday night, it was five kilometres east of Edzo and seven kilometres southeast of Rae.

"Emergency responders are evacuating the area and regrouping at a new base of operations at a safe distance. All response activities have stopped for now to protect life safety," Westwick wrote.

"Please know that this does not mean the community is lost."

Before leaving, fire crews put up structure protection east of the community to wet the grounds in the area. They also sprayed down structures with a special gel designed to discourage ignition.

But Westwick said residents should prepare for some structures to be lost.

"This is an extremely serious situation. We will not know whether anything has been lost until it is once again safe to access the area," he wrote.

The wildfire was last mapped at just over 630 square kilometres but has grown significantly since then.

Wildfire jumped Highway 3

The wildfire crossed Highway 3 on Tuesday afternoon, according to emergency officials. That highway has been closed since early afternoon and is the only highway out of Yellowknife.

In an online update on Tuesday evening, fire officials said extremely windy conditions through the day caused the fire to breach the highway at kilometre 278, and also caused "significant fire growth, extreme fire behaviour, and huge plumes of smoke visible as far as Yellowknife." 

Earlier on Tuesday, the N.W.T. Department of Infrastructure confirmed the highway is closed between kilometres 246 and 334 — the entire stretch between the two communities.

"Residents should not travel in this area," the department stated in an email.

Similar strong winds from the east were expected again on Wednesday, officials said. That could continue to push the fire westward toward Behchokǫ and challenge firefighters.

On Monday, Behchokǫ's 2,000 residents were ordered to leave their homes and travel Highway 3 to Yellowknife. Less than a day later, the highway had been closed.

Before the highway closed, Behchokǫ Chief Clifford Daniels told CBC he was trying to stay optimistic but was worried about what would happen.

Daniels was at the pilgrimage in Lac Ste. Anne, Alta., when the evacuation order came down, but flew back to the N.W.T. and was driving Highway 3 around noon Tuesday when he took CBC's call. Lac Ste. Anne had its own extreme weather Tuesday, which forced the cancellation of the annual pilgrimage.

Some Behchokǫ residents had been with him in Lac Ste. Anne and were distraught to hear the news, he added. He suggested they take their time returning, so there isn't an influx of nearly 200 more people.

He said most people have left Behchokǫ now, though a few have chosen to stay.

"It's good that lots of people are going to be safe, away from harm. Lots of material things are in question ... those things can be replaced if it does get worse," he said.

He added that he hopes to have a better idea by Thursday on whether the fire is something they can fight.

"[A] change in the weather, too, would help — especially rain. And, you know, little prayers here and there wouldn't hurt," he said. "I think it's really needed — we need some type of something to help us really change the situation we're in."

Fire takes out power

Shortly after announcing the highway closure, power went down in Yellowknife and Behchokǫ̀. Power was out in Yellowknife for about an hour, and took longer to restore in most of Behchokǫ̀.

"Initial indications are that the fires near Behchokǫ have interrupted electricity transmission from Snare. Further investigation is necessary to confirm," NTPC stated.

"Updates will be provided as information becomes available."

Highway 3 is closed right up to Yellowknife, where a road block is stopping vehicles from getting through.