The Government of the Northwest Territories has closed one territorial park and enacted fire bans at four other parks – all in the South Slave region – due to the threat of wildfires as well as extremely dry forest conditions.
According to a news release from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) issued Wednesday, the 60th Parallel Territorial Park on Highway 1, just north of the Alberta boundary, has been closed until further notice.
The NWT Parks website states it actually closed Monday.
Fire bans are now in place at Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park in Fort Smith, Hay River Territorial Park, Little Buffalo Falls Territorial Park on Highway 5, northwest of Fort Smith and Twin Falls Territorial Park in Enterprise.
The government states that camp stoves, enclosed barbecues and propane-fueled cooking and heating devices are permitted.
They must be placed within regulation fire pits and should not emit a flame more than a half metre in diameter and height.
Stubborn wildfires have been plaguing Northern Alberta for the better part of a month now forcing several evacuation orders, many of those affecting Indigenous communities
Thankfully, no wildfire-related deaths or injuries have been reported.