Telecommunications restored across the N.W.T., Yukon, Nunavut and Northern BC

Internet, cell phone and landline calling have been restored across the Yukon, and Nunavut, and Northern B.C., says telecommunications provider Northwestel

A wildfire that has evacuated thousands of BC residents, also knocked out 911 service and disrupted telecommunications in Yukon, NWT, Nunavut and Northern B.C., with officials in Yukon asking City of Whitehorse residents needing help to go directly to the local RCMP detachment, fire halls or to flag down ambulances stationed throughout the city.

Northwestel technicians told customers that the wildfire blew out the company’s main fibre line between Fort Nelson and Patry Lake.

The Parker Lake BC blaze reached almost 17 square kilometres in size on Saturday, more than doubling the eight square kilometres reported just hours earlier, with B.C. Wildfire Service maps showing the fire burning just a few kilometres west of Fort Nelson’s city limits.

Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Mayor Rob Fraser said most of the 3,500 residents in and around Fort Nelson have been evacuated since the Parker Lake fire broke out on Friday, but police are knocking on doors to ensure everyone got out.

Late Saturday, in the Yukon and Northern BC, crews were able to repair a kilometres-long stretch of fibre optic line near Fort Nelson.

Service has also been restored in parts of the Northwest Territories that were left without service Saturday, but there is still damage to fibre optic lines in the territory caused by a wildfire burning between Kakisa and Jean Marie River.

“If you are in the South Slave, Yellowknife area, things are great. You’ve got your long distance back. Everything should be working perfectly for you,” said Tammy April, vice president of customer experience with Northwestel. ”

“When you’re continuing up the Mackenzie Valley into the Beaufort Delta, you will have long distance and landline service, you’ll have mobility service, but you’ll be finding that your internet is a bit congested.”