Residents of Fort Good Hope have been told to evacuate the community after a campfire-turned-wildfire began threatening the area on Saturday.
Chief Collin Pierrot stated on social media that a state of emergency had been declared following an emergency meeting with the evacuation order issued shortly after that.
NWT Fire stated Saturday that the fire, which is being called VQ001, was caused by what it called an abandoned campfire and has been deemed out of control. Fire crews were trying to fight the blaze as of press time and had grown to five hectares in size as of 3:45 p.m.
NWT Fire information officer Thomas Bentham stated that there is a risk that winds shifting to the northeast and east overnight could cause the blaze to reach the community within the next 24 hours.
Bentham also stated that airtankers and helicopters have been working to slow the fire's growth with local crews working on the ground. Additional crews were en route to the area and structure protection in the community was underway.
PIerrot urged the community's 500-plus residents to pack lightly, but not to forget any important paperwork and the meet at the band hall as that was the muster point. Evacuees will be heading to Norman Wells.
On its Facebook page, the Town of Norman Wells stated it was looking for people to help set up cots for the emergency centres, which right now are the Ray Persson Memorial Arena and the community hall.
Norman Wells Mayor Frank Pope told NNSL Media that Mackenzie Mountain School is a back-up location in case there's overflow at the two original location.
Vehicles were being organized to help get people to where they had to go, he added, and people are beginning to mobilize.
"We've had a lot of people asking what they can do to help and a lot of them have offered up their homes and food if we need it," he said. "We'll do whatever we can to help."
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.