Yellowknife airport crews tackled brush fires as the city imposed an open-air burning ban with immediate effect on Monday.
“Due to the extremely dry conditions, an immediate mandatory open burning ban has been placed into effect for the City of Yellowknife until further notice,” said a city statement.
“This ban will include the use of approved fire pits within Yellowknife.”
Meanwhile, Yellowknife Airport’s fire crew dealt with several small brush fires. Passing residents could see an airport fire truck working to put out the fires, which airport management described as “no issue at all” from a public safety perspective.
The city says it is working with the territorial Department of Environment and Natural Resources as the fire risk intensifies.
Fires are now burning across the western Northwest Territories, from Fort Good Hope down to Trout Lake, with several wildfires also appearing near Highway 3 between Fort Providence and Behchoko.
Find out more: NWT fire map
The fire danger for Yellowknife is listed as ‘extreme’.
The territorial government is set to provide an update on the territory-wide wildfire season on Monday afternoon.
