He was about to make his N.W.T. cabin more fire-resistant, until a wildfire destroyed it

Joey Horesay says he was just about to put metal siding and roofing on his cabin, in the Dehcho region of the N.W.T., to protect it from fires. Then it burned down.

"I was just ready to put the metal to it there, in case of what just happened — a little late now," he said.

"There's no building there in order for me to put metal siding or roofing there."

Horesay's cabin, along with his brother's, was hit by a wildfire that is burning on either side of Highway 1, between the Fort Providence junction and the Highway 7 junction.

Horesay says there's nothing left of either his or his brother's cabin, which were beside each other.

"We had that one there for at least 15 years," he said of his brother's cabin. He says the loss is "devastating."

"It's pretty hurtful."

Horesay says his cabin was located in an ancestral gathering area for the Dene.

A photo of the remains of Joey Horesay's cabin near the Redknife River. The cabin was burned down before Horesay could install metal siding and roofing to make it fire-resistant. (Submitted by Joey Horesay)

Horesay said when he heard about a fire in the Redknife River area, he had a feeling that his cabin was at risk.

"I was more or less expecting it — but not that bad," he said.

N.W.T. Fire posted about the loss of two structures on Sunday and said other "values" along Highway 1 in that area are also "at risk."

Burned out vehicles at Joey Horesay's cabin. He says he lost a truck, a snowmobile, quad and hunting and trapping gear. (Submitted by Joey Horesay)

Mike Westwick, N.W.T. fire information officer, said the situation is unfortunate, but when fire conditions are unsafe there's little that can be done.

"There are days where those fires grow so significantly," he said.

"It's a very unfortunate reality, and certainly our hearts go out to the folks who were affected by that."

A photo taken on May 13 shows smoke billowing from a wildfire along N.W.T. Highway 1. A fire along the highway burned two cabins in the Redknife River area. (Robert Holden/CBC)

Horesay says he had hunting and trapping gear, snowmobiles, quads and a truck at the cabin. He estimates his losses at about $120,000.

He says he doesn't have insurance and although the situation is difficult, Horesay says he's still thankful.

"Just thank God nobody was in the fire, that there was no lives lost," he said.