Evacuation order issued for residents in Canada's Northwest Territories capital due to wildfires.

author: FutureCar Staff    

Residents in the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday night due to approaching wildfires. The city, with a population of 20,000 people, is not in immediate danger, but those in the highest-risk areas are advised to leave as soon as possible. Other residents have until noon on Friday to evacuate, according to the Northwest Territories government. Environment Minister Shane Thompson assured the public that there is a safe window for residents to leave the city by road and air. The fire is currently burning about 10 miles outside the city, and there is a possibility it may reach the outskirts by the weekend if there is no rain.

If visibility is limited due to smoke, those leaving Yellowknife by highway will be escorted through the active fire zone. The Northwest Territories has already experienced over 200 wildfires, and as of Wednesday, there were 1,067 active wildfires burning across Canada. Earlier in the day, Mike Westwick, the region's fire information officer, stated that eight communities, totaling nearly 6,800 people, have already been evacuated. This accounts for about 15% of the Northwest Territories' population. To aid in the evacuation efforts, Canadian Forces personnel have been assisting firefighters and using Hercules aircraft to airlift evacuees. This has been described as the largest airlift in the history of the territory.

This year, Canada has witnessed a record number of wildfires, with over 8,108 miles burned so far. The situation remains challenging, but efforts are being made to ensure the safety of residents and minimize the impact of the wildfires.

FutureCar Staff