RCMP in the Northwest Territories say they’ll be delivering firm deterrence to the steady trickle of people trying to return to the communities — but they’re hoping to be able to get the message across without resorting to jail or fines.
At a Wednesday evening wildfire update, N.W.T. officials said existing evacuation orders have been updated to make it clear that anyone who is not an essential worker needs to leave the territory — and not come back.
Enforcement will be focused on the two staffed checkstops, one located at the junction of Highways 1 and 2, and the other located on Highway 3 at Kilometre 272 between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ, a community about 110 kilometres northwest of the capital city, said Jennifer Young, information officer for the territory’s emergency management organization.
“Please follow the instructions of staff at the checkstops,” Young said. “Those who refuse to follow these instructions will be reported to the RCMP.”
Penalties under the act include being taken into custody or fines up to $5,000, said RCMP Cpl. Matt Halstead.
But, as he pointed out, those penalties have existed since the start of the wildfire crisis and RCMP have opted instead for a softer approach — trying to address concerns, connect people with resources to leave and encourage them to leave on their own.
The updated orders won’t change the RCMP approach, he said.
“With the exception, I will say, of the roadblocks. We really need people to respect those. Those are lawfully placed and if we have to go down and assist with enforcement, then we can.”
Attempts to return
More than two-thirds of the N.W.T.’s 45,000-plus residents are living in evacuation centres and hotels as far away as Calgary and Winnipeg. They left by plane or by driving hundreds of kilometres to safety.
The 20,000 residents of Yellowknife were ordered out a week ago while other communities were evacuated before that.
On Wednesday, officials weren’t able to provide numbers on how many people have attempted to get through the roadblocks and get into an evacuated zone.
“Definitely in the Yellowknife area, we are getting consistent numbers throughout the day of people … trying to get back,” said Jeffrey Edison, the infrastructure department’s acting assistant deputy minister.
Some are from surrounding areas trying access food, others are people who want to check on their properties. Regardless of their intentions, Edison said, the result is that these individuals are holding up the delivery of fuel, medicine and other necessities that “support people who are in the city, who are trying to save the city.”
Yellowknife fire
Earlier Wednesday, Highway 3 between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ was closed at 2 p.m. to allow crews to conduct ignition operations.
The preventive burns were planned for the highway stretch between kilometre 272 and 334.
Meanwhile, the massive blaze burning about 15 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife is expected to hold steady. That fire has burned more than 174,000 hectares.
In its latest update, N.W.T. Fire reiterated the fire is unlikely to reach the outskirts of the city in the coming days as it “has been held at bay with aerial support, rain and a downturn in weather” from last weekend.
Crews will be conducting “small-scale ignitions” on Wednesday to limit the fire’s growth to the north and south.
The risk to Behchokǫ remains minimal, according to the update.
“We expect the odd flare-up and will have ground crews to respond and extinguish,” reads the update.
Ingraham Trail fire
Officials say the fire burning north of the Ingraham Trail, a highway that stretches east of Yellowknife, is unlikely to reach the road thanks to “prevalent wind conditions forecasted aided with successful firefighting efforts.”
The fire is about 10 kilometres from the Ingraham Trail and has burned a total of 50,200 hectares.
Crews have put in a line of fire retardant that will allow for controlled burns to the south and may attack the fire directly depending on its temperature.
Dettah fire
N.W.T. Fire said the fire remains about 29 kilometres southeast of Dettah. Neither that community, Ndilǫ or Yellowknife are at risk from this fire.
Crews dropped retardant on Tuesday “to box in the northwest part of the fire,” reads the update.
They have already established a control line from Great Slave Lake to Jennejohn Lake. The fire remains about seven kilometres from Jennejohn Lake and has burned 49,500 hectares.
No plans for return
The mayor of Yellowknife, Rebecca Alty, said Tueday that it’s not safe for residents to go home to the territorial capital, but said city officials are working on a return plan.
Most of the 20,000 residents left by air or road late last week to cities and towns as far south as Calgary and as far east as Winnipeg.
During the Tuesday wildfire update, Alty noted that everyone is wondering when they can go home but said the return plan has two parts: first, that the wildfire isn’t posing a danger and second, that essential services are up and running.
Similar messages came from the mayors of Hay River and Fort Smith, which also have fires burning nearby.
The territorial government has provided the following links for residents: