Cabins lost in wildfire near Tulita, N.W.T., as smoke forces some residents to leave

Cabins at 12 Mile, near Tulita, N.W.T., were lost over the weekend in a wildfire. 

Mike Westwick, a spokesperson for N.W.T. Fire, said crews had set up sprinklers in the area, but could not turn them on due to the conditions. 

"Because of the extreme conditions and the terrible visibility and the danger inherent in accessing those areas at that time we were in it, we were unable to start those sprinklers to run those protections," he said. 

"It's a terribly unfortunate situation and obviously a terrible outcome for the folks who value that area." Westwick said the full extent of the damage is not yet clear.

"What's been apparent … is that there's been significant devastation in the area," he said, referring to photos on social media. "In those photos you see … ash left behind straight down to the foundations." 

Tulita Mayor Douglas Yallee said there were five or six cabins in the area. 

At last measurement, the fire had burned about 14,000 hectares and remains within 10 kilometres of Tulita, but is on the far side of the Mackenzie River. 

Westwick said it is not a threat to the community, and crews are now focused on protecting other structures in the area. 

He added residents who have lost cabins can apply for compensation through the territory's Hunters and Trappers Disaster Assistance Program. 

Smoke from the fire has forced about 30 people to leave the community.

On Sunday, elders, residents with respiratory conditions and children under five, travelled to Délı̨nę. 

"They were all accommodated and fed, and so they were in pretty good hands," said Paulina Roche, the chief executive office of the Délı̨nę Got'ı̨nę government. 

Some residents are staying at the hotel, while others are with friends and family. 

Roche said they are now assessing whether elders need home care and how best to accommodate them as there are only two home care workers in the community.