Fort Smith — May 1, 2026
A key milestone was reached on a critical public safety investment as the Government of the Northwest Territories broke ground on a new Territorial Wildfire Centre building today.
The Territorial Wildfire Centre will be the central artery of the wildfire management program in the NWT – providing the technical needs, warehousing capacity, and facilities required for a modern wildfire management program.
The building itself is designed to be resilient in the face of natural disasters, with contingencies built in to ensure safe, continuous operations and coordination throughout disasters.
Cutting edge, modern facilities will support improved territorial coordination through effective duty room operations, a significantly larger warehouse space for maintaining and coordinating territorial equipment caches, and increased space for personnel in the wildfire program.
Quotes
“Purpose-built and designed facilities support stronger wildfire operations, which support safer communities for northerners in a changing climate. This is just one piece of our promise to deliver on improved emergency management in the Northwest Territories. We are thrilled to see this critical investment move forward so we can continue to deliver a strong, dynamic wildfire management program that meets the territory’s needs. Supporting the people, equipment, and services that operate out of our territorial wildfire centre will build increased capacities across the whole Northwest Territories and ensure that we are ready for emergencies.”
- Jay MacDonald, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“This new Territorial Wildfire Centre represents a critical investment in protecting people, communities, and infrastructure across the Northwest Territories. Purpose-built, resilient facilities like this strengthen our ability to prevent, prepare for, and respond to wildfires in a changing climate. By supporting the people, equipment, and coordination at the heart of our wildfire program, we are building a stronger, more capable emergency management system that keeps northerners safe.”
- Vince McKay, Minister of Infrastructure
Quick facts
- The investment in the facility is valued at approximately $30 million.
- The successful proponent for the project was Wildstone Builders.
- The Territorial Wildfire Centre is currently housed at the federal building in Fort Smith.
Related links
For media requests, please contact:
Cabinet Communications
Executive and Indigenous Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
PressSecretary@gov.nt.ca