Drone crews use thermal scans to spot hotspots around Fort Simpson, Wrigley

Heat seeking drones have helped crews locate hot spots and ash pits that could cause flare-ups or injury.

Drone crews use thermal scans to spot hotspots around Fort Simpson, Wrigley Both communities in the N.W.T. remain under an evacuation order Crews spent the weekend working on the wildfires outside Wrigley and Fort Simpson, and while cooler temperatures and scattered rain have helped, community members will have to wait a bit longer before they can return home. Fire information officer Sarah Hall says the window of positive weather has been helpful, allowing crews to establish ‘black lines’-- areas where all the available fuel is removed. But, that window may be closing in the coming days, as drying conditions return and temperatures creep up.

“Every day for this week, temperatures are going to slowly start to increase,” said Hall. “There is a chance that fire behavior could increase when we have increased temperatures and as well as when our relative humidity goes down. It just means that our fuels are drying out again and are more susceptible to ignition.”

In Wrigley, the southeastern line is now considered to be contained, fire information officer Shannon Graf said on Sunday afternoon. She added that the fire size has increased, but to the west in the direction of Mount Gaudet and not towards Wrigley. Over the weekend, a drone crew was deployed around Fort Simpson, using infrared heat sensors to track down hot spots and ash pits, which present not just a threat for fire, but for injury.

“They may not look dangerous from the surface, but they can be two to four feet deep and are extremely hot. If someone were to step into one, it could cause serious injury,” said Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation Chief Kele Antoine in a social media post on July 12. “These underground fires take time to find and fully extinguish, and that’s one of the reasons crews are taking the time they need before everyone returns home.

Your safety remains the priority.” Hall says N.W.T. Fire wants to make sure hotspots and other dangers, like ash pits, are no longer a hazard before residents return. “There's still a lot of work to be done in terms of mopping up and patrolling,” said Hall, adding that part of that calculation is making sure they won’t have to leave again, once they return.

“It is a really big step and we want to do it correctly.” Fort Simpson Mayor Les Wright said crews are actively working to restore power to the airport and a subdivision that had lost power. “Still don’t have a date for reentry,” said Wright.

“But as soon as it is deemed safe we will be ready.” The drone team is now headed to Wrigley to conduct scans there, enabling crews to action hot spots safely. Crews in both communities also continue to identify and remove ‘danger trees’ that were damaged by the fire.

In Fort Simpson, danger trees have been removed south along Highway 1 to limit the impacts to power lines, while crews worked with Pehdzeh Kı̨ First Nation to identify trees for removal around homes and infrastructure in Wrigley. “I know everyone is eager to come home. Every hotspot that is extinguished and every dangerous tree that is removed brings us one step closer,” said Antoine.

“We all want to get back, but we want to do it safely.” Evacuation orders have been extended another week for Fort Simpson. Wrigley also remains under an evacuation order.