Fire near N.W.T.'s Snare hydro system grows to more than 200 hectares

A wildfire 10 kilometres south of the Snare hydro system, 140 kilometresnorthwest of Yellowknife,is now 20 to 30 times larger than when it was reported on Tuesday.

The fire, which initially covered 10 hectares, is now covering between 200 and 300 hectares of forest.

• 7 new fires start in N.W.T.'s North Slave region, 2 near hydro facilities

A spokesperson with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources says there is no immediate risk to transmission lines or infrastructure at this time,but warns that the fire is expected to grow because ofdry and windy conditions.

The territorial government says it is developing a plan to fightthe fire and protect values at risk.

The Snare hydro system provides power to Yellowknife, Behchoko and Dettah.It includes four separate hydro plants as well as 150 kilometres of transmission lines.

Additional firefighting resources from elsewhere in the N.W.T. arrived in the North Slave region yesterdayand are being deployed to several fires in the area.