Wet weather helps free up N.W.T. firefighters to fight Alberta wildfires

Cool and wet weather in the Northwest Territories has helped free up local fire crews to fight wildfires in northern Alberta.

Twenty firefighters and seven planning and supervising staff left for south of the N.W.T. border on Monday, explained Richard Olsen,the fire operations manager for the territory's Environment Department.

Additional equipment was sent down too like hoses, pumps, water bladder tanks andinitial attack kits.An air tanker group is also stationed in Fort McMurray, Alta., to help,Olsen said.

"The N.W.T. ... had a really good reprieve from the fire environment with all the rain and cool weather that have come in," said Olsen.

Another round of crews 20 firefighters and more fire supervision and planning staff are gearing up to head south in the next few daysif the Alberta government still needs help, said Olsen.

We certainly want to do what we can to help them out.- Richard Olsen, N.W.T. fire operations manager

The crews from the territory's South and North Slave regionswill be there for two-week stints.

"We were holding back a little bit just to make sure we didn't end up in the same situation as Alberta," said Olsen.

"It actually looks like we probably [won't] be too, too worried about fires until the middle of June."

Given the rain, Olsen said the territory likely has about a seven to 10-day period before the risk of fire increases.

"And in worst-case situations, we can actually request Alberta return our resources," he said, adding that it doesn't seem likely.

'Very trying situation' for neighbours

The Chuckegg Creek fireis the largest wildfire in Alberta, at close to 2,800 square kilometres in size and remains out of control.

Late last month, the wildfire near SteenRiver, Alta., closed Highway 1, cutting off traffic in and out of the N.W.T. for a few days.Around 2,300 firefighters from across the country are doing their best to corral fires burning across northern Alberta.

"It's a very trying situation for the government of Alberta and the fire responders. I think they're doing a great job," said Olsen.

"Knowing that they're going through a very difficult situationand the impact on the people that have been evacuated or threatened ...we certainly want to do what we can to help them out."

Olsen said the territory also sent a few fire staff to help with fires in Yukon and Peace Point, Alta.