Wildfire crews continue operations protecting Fort Simpson from 128,132 acre blaze

Several ‘blacklines’ have been established throughout the community

Wildfire crews continue operations protecting Fort Simpson from 128,132 acre blaze Published 9:22 am Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Close to 150 personnel continue fighting the out-of-control wildfire near Fort Simpson, as the blaze swells to 128,132 acres. As of July 13, airtankers and skimmers, five helicopters, 119 wildland firefighters, and 29 structure protection personnel continue combatting the blaze, assisted by “various pieces of heavy equipment, structure protection vehicles and transport vehicles,” according to NWT Fire. An evacuation order remains in effect for the community.

As temperatures reach the high 20s C and warm, dry conditions continue, wildfire activity is expected to increase. NWT Fire says residents should anticipate more visible smoke and active burning across the fire area. July 14 calls for a slight chance of isolated thundershowers with wind gusts expected to reach 20 km/h during the afternoon.

“Crews are taking advantage of the current conditions to strengthen containment lines and extinguish remaining hotspots before hotter and drier weather arrives,” says NWT Fire. Along the eastern flank of the fire, wildfire crews continue their mop-up operations. These efforts target remaining hotspots, deep ash pits and heat trapped underground in tree roots, stumps and organic soil.

NWT Fire says this work is time-consuming but is essential to preventing wildfire reignition and ensuring the area’s safety. The objective along the eastern flank — from the airport to the town-site — is to establish a 100-foot “blackline,” which is characterized by zero remaining fire within 100 feet into the wildfire perimeter, including forested area and the areas surrounding community structures. A 100-foot blackline has been established surrounding the culture camp, and from the culture camp west of the town-site to just south of the causeway.

Crews remain in the area on patrol, and direct attack operations continue north of the camp to eliminate hot spots along the fire perimeter. A 25-foot blackline is now complete along the east and south side of Gill Crescent, which includes the interior forested area. Another 100-foot blackline exists within the forested area between Gill Crescent and the Wildrose subdivision, as crews continue mopping up hotspots sheltered within deep ash pits in the area.

Twenty-five-foot blacklines have been established along the Four Mile Road in Wildrose and along the eastern flank of Highway 1, south to the airport. The remaining length of Highway 1 will require wildland firefighters to continue working towards a 100-foot blackline. “Danger trees” are being removed throughout all residential areas impacted by the fire, and south along Hwy 1 to mitigate potential impacts to power lines.