The remaining essential workers in Wrigley are evacuating, even as their neighbours in Fort Simpson return home. 

The community of about 130 people was evacuated to Fort Smith on June 29, because of a wildfire north of the community.

According to a N.W.T. Fire Bulletin released Saturday afternoon, the fire perimeter grew approximately two kilometers on the south side. overnight. That’s the portion of the fire closest to Wrigley.

Jamie Moses, chief of the Pehdzéh Kı̨ First Nation in Wrigley, says the incident commander sent word the fire was moving towards the community, and crews had to abandon their line and pull out for their own safety. Air tankers put down fire retardant, but the fire crossed that line too. 

“Last night we got everybody gassed up and this morning everybody’s making their way out to Fort Smith,” said Moses. He doesn’t have exact numbers but says around 20 people will be driving out.

Moses says conditions are very smoky, especially towards the river, but the ferry is open. 

“I just spoke to the captain. He’s waiting on the north side for the first batch of vehicles to arrive,” said Moses. “Everybody’s to make their way to Fort Smith and they’re going to be expecting us, ” he said. 

People are driving themselves out. Moses said there were vehicles made available for anyone who needed one. 

He says aside from the fire crews, four people will remain in the community: himself, Freddie Lennie, Michael Pellissey and Urban Antoine. He says fire crews from the territorial government are also packing up and getting ready to move to the airport if needed. N.W.T. Fire says the priority right now is securing the south flank from the base of Mount Gaudet to the Pipeline right-of-way to the east. An ignition operation is planned as well to remove fuel in the wildfire’s path at the north end of the community.

“We’re really uneasy,” said Moses. “This is what we were fearing so there is, you know, a lot of worry. But at the same time I’m optimistic because I think we have everybody getting out. There were some people who didn’t want to go, but they are on their way now.”

According to N.W.T. Fire, this is a precautionary measure to make sure people stay safe. While the fire is closer to the community, fire information officer Thomas Bentham says the fire is not expected to go through the village, based on satellite detection. 

“We are looking at some pretty high winds in the Dehcho region,” he said. “Currently, it’s blowing to the west and that’s away from the community, but there’s still a lot of wooded area and lots of fuel south of the fires perimeter. And we’re taking precautionary measures.”

200 kilometers away, residents of Fort Simpson are currently returning home. Fort Simpson Mayor Les Wright says the situation in Wrigley will not change his community’s return plans. When he made the announcement on Friday, many residents of Wrigley were expecting to hear when they’d be able to return as well. 

“It’s very disappointing, but what can you do, right? We gotta be absolutely, 100 per cent, you know, on the safe side,” said Moses. 

‘We are on it,’ says Fort Smith mayor

Fort Smith is ready to welcome more evacuees from Wrigley, says mayor Dana Fergusson. She says the arena is set up to host arrivals, before they’ll be triaged into accommodation spaces. 

Most of the previous evacuees had already been housed outside the evacuation center in Fort Smith, between friends, family, hotels, and space provided by Aurora College. She said there are still spaces available, but some people may end up having to stay at the arena.

“We are on it. We definitely already have a great system in place. We know what’s up. Fort Smith is very like, ‘how can I help? What do you need us to do?’” she said. “No one wants to have to go through this. Just try to make it as easy as possible for them.”

She said the town would be posting on social media about ways people can help. 

“I just so proud to be a Fort Smither right now because of the acts of kindness,” she said.