Reid Lake burnout operation a success: fire officials

All cabins have been protected and a burnout operation designed to stop the fire from reaching the Reid Lake campground was successful, N.W.T. fire officials said in an email to CBC around noon Thursday.

Firefighters are still mopping up several hot spots along the perimeter of the fire, which grew from 20,000 to 32,000 hectares. The mop up isexpected to take upthe next three or four days.

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Six fire crews, a tanker, two helicopters and a risk protection unit are working on the fire, said JudyMclinton, a spokesperson for Environment and Natural Resources. Two more fire crews are expected to arrive today.

An evacuation order for the Reid Lake campground was issued Wednesday morning, with campers ordered to remove their belongings by 3 p.m. The campground is now closed.

On Wednesday evening, the government also issued a voluntary evacuation order for cabins at nearby Pickerel Lake.

The N.W.T.'s Highway 4 remains closed from the Reid Lake campground toTibbittLake and people are advised to stay out of the area.

Jacob DavidCharpentiershared this video Wednesdayof a helicopter flying through smoke near his cabin at Reid Lake with a terse message:"Holy smokesBatman!"