Fire Ban In Place For South Slave Region On All Public And Private Lands

Press Release

July 20, 2023

A fire ban is in place for all public and private lands in the South Slave Region – from the west of the Slave River at Fort Smith through Fort Resolution, and stretching to the east to the border with the Dehcho Region.

This is effective through July 28 and may be extended if necessary.
This affects the following communities:

• Enterprise
• Fort Providence
• Fort Resolution
• Fort Smith
• Hay River
• Kátł’odeeche First Nations
• Kakisa

A map is attached showing the extent of the area these restrictions apply. They apply both in communities, and on the land.

This is being implemented due to continued extreme fire danger and extraordinary weather conditions to protect communities and protect wildfire fighting resources by limiting avoidable person-caused fires.

Terms of fire ban:

• Starting, tending, or using open fire outdoors, including in an open fire pit or burn barrel
• Burn permits are temporarily cancelled while this order is in effect
• Discharging firearms with incendiary or tracer ammunition
• Fireworks or firecrackers
• Shooting or detonating exploding targets
• Igniting sky lanterns
• Igniting signal flare devices or pyrotechnic bear bangers unless in emergency situations
• Storing flare devices, bear bangers, fireworks, or firecrackers in a manner that may cause them to be ignited.

The use of closed stoves, closed barbeques, closed furnaces, or other devices suitable for containing fire including CSA or ULC-approved gas and propane barbeques are exempt from these restrictions.

The use of fire for exercising Aboriginal or treaty rights by Indigenous peoples are exempt from these restrictions.

If you see violations, please report them by calling 1-877-NWT-FIRE.

For media requests, please contact:

Mike Westwick

Manager, Communications and Public Affairs

Environment and Climate Change

Government of the Northwest Territories

Mike_Westwick@gov.nt.ca

867-688-0958

Backgrounder:
southslave_fire_ban_area_july19_2023_bilingual.pdf

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