Stagg River News Today

In its evening update, N.W.T. Fire said the wildfire that burned homes in Rae has not yet reached Edzo, though it did breach Frank Channel earlier on Wednesday.

N.W.T. Fire issued an update Wednesday morning confirming the fire burned down three houses in Rae. Strong winds are expected to keep pushing the fire toward Behchokǫ Wednesday.

More than 10,000 square kilometres of land have burned in the N.W.T. so far this season, and Premier Caroline Cochrane noted the season is only half done. This week, a wildfire burning in between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ̀ took a run toward Highway 3 and then toward Behchokǫ̀, burning through several homes.

The wildfire burning between Behchokǫ̀ and Yellowknife crossed Highway 3 on Tuesday afternoon, according to emergency officials. The fire had also moved to within 12 kilometres of the community.

Over the weekend, a wildfire burning near Highway 3 quadrupled in size. Residents with homes and cabins along the highway have been under an evacuation order since the evening of Friday, July 21. Crews have started planned burns to limit the fire's growth.

Fires in the North and South Slave regions, the Sahtu and the Dehcho are bringing smoke into several communities, as hot, dry conditions fuel wildfires in the N.W.T.