An external company is reviewing the GNWT’s handling of the 2023 wildfires and has been doing so since November.
Environment and Climate Change minister Jay MacDonald revealed the independent review of the government’s emergency preparedness during a sitting of the Legislative Assembly Feb. 7.
“This was the first time that homes were lost to wildfire within NWT communities and over 70 percent of residents were called on to evacuate over the course of the season, in some cases more than once,” he said. “Given the scope and severity of the 2023 season, we have engaged an external company to conduct an independent review of last summer’s fires.
“A team of wildfire and program assessment experts will review several aspects of the 2023 season including wildfire management decisions and operations in the field, as well as Environment and Climate Change’s wildfire program structure, budget and administrative systems. The team will also outline lessons learned that can enhance our approach to wildfire management moving forward.”
Saying the review will take a “deep dive” into the NWT wildfire season, MacDonald added the review had been underway since November and the department was responding to recommendations in real time to be prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. The full review is expected to be completed in March and MacDonald said the it would be publicly released.
He added with current conditions indicating the drought that helped fuel the wildfires will continue into 2024, the department was doing its best to source additional fire crews and aircraft and resources would be deployed earlier than normal. Using $20 million in Disaster Relief Funding from Ottawa, MacDonald said ECE would be working with Municipal and Community Affairs to make sure community emergency plans are up to modern requirements.
Minister of MACA Vince McKay added the GNWT would be holding public forums in communities impacted by the wild fires for residents to provide feedback to the officials on what worked and didn’t work during the 2023 wildfire season and evacuations. In addition to the external review MacDonald announced, McKay said the GNWT would also conduct a “comprehensive and independent after-action review.”
“This will be the largest after-action review ever undertaken by this government, and I want residents to know that this is a priority for this government,” he said. “We already know that it will highlight gaps in last year’s emergency response, but it will also inform how we collectively prepare for, manage, and recover from emergencies in the future.
“The Government of the Northwest Territories is deeply committed to learning from last year’s devastating wildfire season, and I believe this extensive review, which all residents will be invited to participate in, will help guide emergency preparation and management efforts going forward.
“I want to stress, however, that our government is not waiting for recommendations from this review to make improvements now. All departments have been working to implement lessons learned from the 2023 wildfire season, including reviewing, and updating the NWT Emergency Plan, updating standard operating procedures, and coordinating training for GNWT staff. The comprehensive review of our Emergency Plan will be complete in advance of the 2024 disaster season.”
Adding MACA was expecting this summer to be “high risk”, McKay said the GNWT would be stepping up it’s emergency preparedness awareness campaigns and advised all households and businesses to have contingency plans in place for potential emergencies.
He added Northerners should be prepared for floods, wildfires and other disasters as a potentially annual occurrence.
“Unfortunately, due to climate change, we can likely expect more frequent and severe wildfires and floods in the future,” he said. “While we cannot predict what this year’s wildfire and breakup season will look like, we can take steps to prepare ourselves. I know it can be difficult to hear that disasters will happen again. But it is critical that all of us, as individuals, businesses, communities, and this government, take action to prepare for and respond to disasters should they occur.”
MacDonald did not say what company had been contacted to conduct the independent review. NNSL has reached out to the GNWT and will update this story when that information is made available.
During his member’s statement, MacDonald also paid tribute to fallen firefighter Adam Yeadon of Fort Liard, who died fighting wildfires in 2023.
“The most significant loss of the 2023 wildfire season was of one of our own, firefighter Adam Yeadon,” said MacDonald. “He passed away working to protect his home community of Fort Liard, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.
“I am proud of the extraordinary work done by our wildfire management team, fire crews, wildfire experts and other first responders in the face of extraordinary pressure and unpredictable conditions. “