Fort Smith Protective Services

07/30/2026

🚒 Help Us Help You!* 🚑

In an emergency, every second counts. A clear, visible civic address helps Fire, EMS, Protective Services, and other first responders find you quickly.

Please make sure your home or business address:

Is at least 3 inches high
Is clearly visible from the roadway
Is displayed on every building as required by Civic Address Numbering Bylaw No. 642

Street names and civic address numbers are assigned by the Town of Fort Smith.

A visible address helps us get to you faster when it matters most. ❤️🚒🚑

07/23/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE:
Fire Restriction in effect

The Town of Fort Smith is issuing a Fire Restriction for the Municipality effective at 5:00PM on July 23rd, 2026. This replaces the Fire Ban that was enacted on July 15th, 2026.
Here is what you need to know:

✅ Backyard fires are still permitted, but only if they are:
In an approved fire pit or contained fire area
Kept small and manageable
Supervised at all times
Fully extinguished before you leave the area
Supplied with water, a hose, or other means of extinguishment nearby

🚫 The following are not permitted during the Fire Restriction:
- Open burning
- Brush or yard waste burning
- Fireworks
- Any fire that creates unnecessary risk due to wind, dry conditions, or unsafe setup

Please use extra caution. If conditions become unsafe, restrictions may change with little notice.

Be safe, be responsible, and never leave a fire unattended

06/30/2026

Shout out to Fort Smith staff and volunteers!

Protective Services, Community Services, and many others have been working hard today to support our neighbours.

Fort Smith’s first full Wildland Urban Interface crew has deployed to help in Fort Simpson. Thank you to volunteer members Dave Porter, James Bambalan, and Dane Wright for representing Fort Smith and helping protect the community.

Here at home, staff and volunteers spent the day setting up an evacuation center for the people of Wrigley. Welcome to Fort Smith!! We are happy to have you here and hope you are able to return home safely soon.

A big thank you to Mary Poitras and her amazing volunteer team for preparing a great meal tonight, and to the Community Services team for providing around-the-clock support and access to recreation facilities for our guests.

Thank you to everyone helping make this happen. Great work team!

06/28/2026

🌡️ Heatwave Safety Reminder – Fort Smith

Hello Fort Smith,

Very hot weather is expected to continue over the next few days. Please take extra care of yourself, your family, your pets, and your neighbours.

✅ Stay safe in the heat:

- Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.
- Limit outdoor work, exercise, and strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.
- Wear light, loose-fitting clothing, sunscreen, and a hat when outside.
- Keep blinds or curtains closed during the day to help keep your home cooler.
- Use fans, air conditioning, cool showers, or spend time in a cooler indoor space if needed.
- Never leave children, vulnerable people, or pets inside a parked vehicle.

** Check on elders and vulnerable loved ones **

Please check in on elders, people living alone, young children, those with medical conditions, and anyone who may have difficulty staying cool.

We hope everyone can enjoy this hot summer day safely!

06/26/2026

To all of those in Fort Smith, the NWT, and beyond,

The Fort Smith Fire Department extends our deepest condolences to NWT wildfire and the entire wildfire community following the tragic loss of three wildfire team members in the recent Bird Dog aircraft crash west of Fort Simpson.

As members of the broader fire service, we know that everyone involved in a response is part of one team. It is a team made up of many people working together in difficult and dangerous conditions to protect communities, homes, and lives. Through this work, deep bonds of friendship, trust, and professional respect are built. It is because of this deep bond that tragedies run deep and echo across the entire industry.

Northern communities are small and tight knit. Aviation and the fire service are even smaller. To everyone impacted by this tragedy, including the friends, families, loved ones, coworkers, and all those who had the honour of working alongside those lost, our thoughts are with you.

From our fire family to yours, we stand with you in grief and support during this incredibly difficult time.

Fort Smith Fire Department

05/26/2026

Good morning Fort Smith!

🔥 Wildfire season is here — Stay informed and be prepared!

Be Prepared!
✅ Keep your vehicle fueled
✅ Pack a 72-hour emergency kit
✅ Make a family evacuation plan
✅ Gather important documents and medications
✅ Consider a plan for your pets
✅ FireSmart your property by reducing fuels around your home

Stay informed! Sign up for the Town of Fort Smith Emergency Alert System to receive emergency notifications directly to your phone or email:

👉 https://alertable.ca/signup/index.html?site=NWT2

You can also review the Town of Fort Smith Emergency Preparedness Guide at fortsmith.ca/emergency for more tips and information.

Prepared communities are safer communities. 🚒🌲

05/23/2026

** NOTICE **

People in Fort Smith may have seen a column of smoke from town throughout the day. The fire that can be seen from Fort Smith is located just inside the park approximately 65 km away.

Fire conditions are challenging but this fire poses NO risk to the town at this time. Wind direction will be favorable for Fort Smith over the coming days.

Burn history and fuel types between the town and the current fire location will also aid fire crews between Fort Smith and the fire.

As always we appreciate the hard work of our wildfire partners as they evaluate and action these fires on our landscape!

For more information and to stay updated about this and other fires in the park visit the Wood Buffalo National Park wildfire page at https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/nature/science_nature/fire_management/feu-foret-fire

🔥 Fire Information Update – Friday May 22, 2026

The current fire danger level for Wood Buffalo National Park is VERY HIGH.

There are four new fires in Wood Buffalo National Park.

🔥2026WB001
📍Location: This fire is located in the central portion of Wood Buffalo National Park, approximately 32 km southwest of Hay Camp and approximately 26 km southeast of Pine Lake Campground.
➡️ Status: This fire is 1.2 ha in size and is classified as being held.
ℹ️ Details: 2026WB001 is a result of lightning. It was discovered by Wood Buffalo fire crew members during their daily patrols and is being actioned by fire crews.

🔥2026WB002
📍Location: This fire is located in the central portion of Wood Buffalo National Park, approximately 33 km southwest of Hay Camp and approximately 27 km southeast of Pine Lake Campground.
➡️ Status: This fire is 0.5 ha in size and is classified as being held.
ℹ️ Details: 2026WB002 is a result of lightning. It was discovered by Wood Buffalo fire crew members during their daily patrols and is being actioned by fire crews.

🔥2026WB003
📍Location: This fire is on the northeastern side of Wood Buffalo National Park near the Whooping Crane Nesting Area, approximately 28 km northeast of Highway 5.
➡️ Status: This fire is 3.5 ha in size and is classified as out of control.
ℹ️ Details: 2026WB003 is a result of lightning. It was discovered by a GNWT helicopter on its way to Fort Smith and was confirmed by Wood Buffalo fire crew members. This fire is being actioned by fire crews. There is no current threat to public safety or infrastructure from this fire.

🔥2026WB004
📍Location: This fire is on the northeastern side of Wood Buffalo National Park near the Whooping Crane Nesting Area, approximately 30 km northeast of Highway 5.
➡️ Status: This fire is 270 ha in size and is classified as out of control.
ℹ️ Details: 2026WB004 is a result of lightning. It was discovered by a GNWT helicopter on its way to Fort Smith and was confirmed by Wood Buffalo fire crew members. This fire is currently in modified response status, being actioned by two helicopters performing bucketing operations.

☀️Weather Report

Hot and dry conditions are expected to persist through the weekend in Wood Buffalo National Park. Temperatures reaching a high of 24° C and lows overnight of 7° C are expected. The current fire danger level is VERY HIGH. Visitors are reminded to do their part to keep communities and first responders safe by not lighting illegal campfires.

For more information, please visit:

🔗Wood Buffalo National Park Weather: https://weather.gc.ca/en/location/index.html?coords=60.267,-114.168
🔗Fort Smith Weather: https://weather.gc.ca/en/location/index.html?coords=60.009,-111.883
🔗Fort Chipewyan Weather: https://weather.gc.ca/en/location/index.html?coords=60.267,-114.168
🔗Garden Creek Weather: https://weather.gc.ca/en/location/index.html?coords=58.705,-113.886

ℹ️ For more information, contact:

Fire Information – Wood Buffalo National Park
867-872-0443
[email protected]

Report wildfires or suspicious smoke to the Fire Duty Officer at 867-621-0136

ℹ️ For more information, visit:

🔗WBNP Fire Status Dashboard: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/nt/woodbuffalo/nature/science_nature/fire_management/feu-foret-fire/carte-gis-map

05/22/2026

🔥 Thank You, Fort Smith! 🔥

Thank you to everyone for your patience and support during the prescribed burning along Marine Drive this past Wednesday.

These burns help reduce wildfire risk in our community while also giving firefighters valuable live fire training. Crews worked hard throughout the evening and practiced many important skills. 👨‍🚒🚒

More prescribed burning can be expected over the coming weeks as conditions allow. Some smoke and minor traffic delays may occur during these operations.

Future burns will also be done in partnership with Wildfire crews to help build strong working relationships and improve cooperation between agencies. 🤝🔥

Thank you again for supporting this important work in our community! 🌲