2014 Northwest Territories fires
| 2014 Northwest Territories Fires | |
|---|---|
| Location | Northwest Territories, Canada |
| Statistics | |
| Date(s) | Summer 2014 |
| Cause | Lightning, human error |
The 2014 forest fire season in the Northwest Territories of Canada is reputed to be the worst for at least two decades. As of 3 July, there had been 123 fires reported in the territory, of which at least 92 were still active and 13 were thought to be human-caused. By 9 July the total had reached 164 fires[1] and on 10 July over 130 fires were thought to be burning. The smoke generated by the fires was blown in the Prairie Provinces and created a moderate health risk there leading Environment Canada to declare an air quality advisory for southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba on 9. July[1] The smoke reached as far away as Bismark, North Dakota, over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) away.[2] By 8 July the largest fires were the Lutsel K'e fire at 31,000 hectares (77,000 acres) and the Gamèti-Wekweeti fire at 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres). By 9 July an area of 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi) had been consumed, about the size of the island of Trinidad.[3]