Operation Nanook tests wildfire response in Fort Smith, N.W.T.

About 100-plus military, territorial government, and RCMP personnel are in Fort Smithas part of Operation Nanookexercises in the Northwest Territories.

The annual military training exercise is based out of Inuvik this year, with related events happening in Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktokand Fort Smith.

The Canadian Forces has declined interviews aboutOperation Nanook during the federal election.

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The exercises in Fort Smith have been focusing on wildfire emergencies, given the situation in N.W.T. the last two summers.

"We're very much at threat of wildfire in the community," said Mayor Brad Brake.

As part of the exercise, Fort Smith walked through the process ofdeclaringa local state of emergency, and members of the operation practised evacuating patients at the Northern Lights Special Care Home by air.

Brake said one thing that needs to avoided islong queues at gas stations when awildfire evacuation notice is given.He said that'svaluable time wasted when a town is under threat, andhas asked all residents to make sure they have at least three-quarters of a tank of gas at any given time,throughout the summer.

Other than that, Brake said he hasn't noticed many problems with the emergency plans tested so far but hedid say communication between the town and the territorial government could always be improved.

"Communication is always an important role," he said.

He added that it's better to find the flaws now than in the middle of an emergency.

"It only serves to make it better for the people in the community, and to make it safer. That's really what we want to do."