FORT SIMPSON — A shelter-in-place order is back on for anyone remaining in a Northwest Territories village threatened by an out-of-control wildfire.
The territory’s government has ordered that all remaining residents of Fort Simpson, and emergency or essential personnel, must shelter in place at the community’s recreation centre.
Only a few dozen people remained in the village after an evacuation order was issued last weekend, and a shelter-in-place order for those who are left was issued and then lifted earlier this week.
The N.W.T. government says there is once again an immediate threat from wildfire and the area is not safe.
Most residents have been staying at a gymnasium-turned-evacuation-centre in Yellowknife, nearly 700 kilometres east of Fort Simpson.
The fire, which the territory’s wildfire agency estimates is now 150 square kilometres in size, started June 26 and is believed to be naturally caused.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2026
The Canadian Press
