Six firefighters from Barrhead Regional Fire Services are now in the Northwest Territories helping to protect the Village of Fort Simpson from a large wildfire that has forced about 1,300 residents from their homes since late June.
The crew left Barrhead in the early hours of June 30, 2026, with two fire trucks – Engine 36 and Tender 5 – for the more than 1,300-kilometre trip. They are working on structure protection as part of a mutual aid response coordinated through Alberta’s Provincial Operations Centre.
Fire Chief Gary Hove got the call on June 29, 2026, around 11 a.m. and had the team confirmed within hours. The six members are Deputy Chief Ted Amos, Capt. Leo Knol, Capt. Hielke Vandermeulen, and firefighters Gregory Saumer, Rueben Aarsen, and Tyler Kalmbach.
The Fort Simpson fire, known as FS016-26, started on June 26 and quickly grew to more than 36,000 hectares. A mandatory evacuation order was issued on June 28. Since then, crews have faced hot, dry conditions, but recent rain has helped slow the fire’s growth. Firefighters are now focused on mopping up hotspots and extinguishing deep ash pits. As of July 9, officials estimated it could be another 10 to 12 days before residents can return home safely.
The Barrhead crew is equipped for a minimum 14-day deployment, which could be extended. To avoid straining local supplies in Fort Simpson, they brought their own shelter, bedding, and about 180 meals. Local business Kodiak Lake Hunting and Fishing supplied freeze-dried meals for the trip.
This isn’t the first time Barrhead Regional Fire Services has answered a call for help far from home. In 2019, the department sent firefighters to the Chuckegg Creek Fire near High Level, Alberta. In 2023, crews helped in Yellowknife and Hay River, and in 2024, they assisted at the Semo Complex wildfire in Garden River.
Barrhead County itself faced a serious wildfire this past May near Thunder Lake, where five homes were destroyed and 13 properties were damaged. That experience may have reinforced the department’s readiness to assist others, knowing firsthand how critical outside help can be.
Across Canada, the 2026 wildfire season has been intense. As of July 9, there were 796 active fires nationally, with 60 with full response that are out of control. The Northwest Territories faces some of the highest fire danger in the country.
Residents in Barrhead can be assured that while the crew is away, local fire protection remains in place. The department has a roster system and can call in off-duty members or rely on nearby mutual aid partners if a local emergency arises.
