‘One step forward, two steps back’ in Fort Good Hope

Fort Good Hope’s chief says he understands residents’ frustration as the community’s evacuation over a wildfire moves into a third week.

Writing on Facebook, Chief Collin Pierrot said community leaders and firefighters had faced difficult days this week, with wildfire VQ001 “still very much active and still a danger.”

“We have faced setbacks where each step forward we take, we then take two steps back,” Chief Pierrot wrote on Saturday afternoon.

“We are not giving up but yesterday, we were not prepared for what was in store.”

While Pierrot did not identify the events to which he was referring, Friday brought the news of a helicopter crash at the community’s airport. The authorities involved have not yet confirmed what took place. NWT Fire has said one person, the pilot, was involved in the incident.

“I realize everyone has been doing a lot and overwhelmed by the events from yesterday,” Pierrot wrote.

“Thank you all for your patience once again and a big thank-you to all evacuees. Our fish camp is completely packed for evacuees, and our community is still under threat.

“I understand that community members are frustrated from being away from their home. When the community is safe and evacuees are safe to return, I will let everyone know so we arrange for your safe return to Fort Good Hope.”

In a separate Saturday update, the NWT government said Fort Good Hope had extended its state of emergency to July 13. (A state of an emergency allows local leaders to take certain actions to protect the community. It doesn’t mean July 13 is when the evacuation will end.)

The GNWT also issued a warning about “illegal activity.”

“Local and regional emergency management authorities in Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells would like to remind all evacuees that there is a zero-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol use in evacuation centres. There is also zero tolerance for disruptive or abusive behaviour at any of the evacuee hosting accommodations,” the territorial government wrote on its public safety webpage.

“Unfortunately, there have been incidents where illegal activity has threatened the safety of others. This behaviour cannot be tolerated, and anyone threatening the safety of others at evacuation centres or other evacuee accommodations may be asked to leave and may not be allowed back in.

“All illegal activity is being reported to and dealt with by the appropriate authorities.”

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