Fire Restrictions are in place for all public and private lands in the North Slave Region, effective immediately. For the South Slave Region, restrictions go into effect as of 12:00 a.m., July 1st. This ban does not apply in National Parks.

This affects the following communities:

• Yellowknife
• Dettah
• N’Dilo
• Gameti
• Wekweètì
• Behchokǫ̀
• Whati
• Łutselkʼe
• Fort Providence
• Hay River
• Katlodeeche First Nation
• Fort Resolution
• Fort Smith
• Kakisa 

Two maps are attached, showing the extent of the areas 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 to or using open fire outdoors, including in an open fire pit or burn barrel
• Burn permits are temporarily cancelled while the order is in effect
• Discharging firearms with incidiary 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 is permitted.

The use of fire for exercising Aboriginal or treaty rights by Indigenous peoples, such as cooking, or hide-tanning, are exempt from these restrictions.

If you see violations, report them. Call 1-877-NWT-FIRE to report violations.

For media requests, please contact:

Mike Westwick
Manager, Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation
Environment and Climate Change
Government of the Northwest Territories
Mike_Westwick@gov.nt.ca
867-688-0958