1 more home — not 2 — lost to wildfire in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T., officials say
CBC
Fire officials in the N.W.T. say they made an error on Thursday afternoon by reporting two more homes had been lost to wildfire in Behchokǫ, on top of the three reported lost earlier.
The actual number of homes lost in the community is four, according to an update from N.W.T. Fire late Thursday afternoon.
"All [four] were lost during the fire's initial approach to Rae, one of which was confirmed today. We apologize for the error and any confusion it caused for folks already going through so much," the update reads.
Also on Thursday afternoon, Highway 3 was closed once again between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ. (Find the latest on the highway here.)
The bulk of firefighting has been ongoing in Rae. Edzo, to the south, has not been compromised, though the fire reached Frank Channel on Wednesday.
N.W.T. Fire said crews have put out a "significant flare up" south of Rae, and structure protection at Frank Channel has so far held. The fire had not crossed Frank Channel towards Edzo, officials said Thursday afternoon.
An evacuation order remains in place for Behchokǫ's 2,000 residents. N.W.T. Fire said the wildfire is burning on both sides of Highway 3 now and smoke will be "severe" no matter which way the wind blows.
Fire information officer Mike Westwick told CBC earlier Thursday morning that the Frank Channel bridge over Highway 3 is unaffected, and sprinklers have been put up on homes and structures in the area.
As of late Thursday, the wildfire had been most recently mapped at 114,215 hectares.
Warm weather, sun and wind have been pushing the fire further into the community.
Thick smoke blanketed most of the region for much of Thursday, officials said, before partially clearing in the afternoon, improving visibility.
Yellowknife, which lies 45 kilometres to the southeast of the fire, is not at risk.
However, the fibre line, which brings internet to Yellowknife and elsewhere, remains at risk.
There's no rain in the forecast.
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