Wildfires Threaten Northern Canadian City of Yellowknife, Prompting Evacuation of Residents
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – Canadian fire crews are working tirelessly to prevent wildfires from reaching the northern city of Yellowknife, as all 20,000 residents are being evacuated by car and plane following an evacuation order. The wildfires, located 16 km (10 miles) northeast of the city, pose a significant threat and could reach the outskirts by Saturday if there is no rain.
Thick smoke has engulfed Yellowknife, with water bombers flying low over the city in an effort to combat the flames. The territorial fire service has warned of challenging days ahead, as northwest to west-northwest winds are expected on Friday and Saturday, which could push the fire closer to Yellowknife.
Hundreds of people have lined up outside a local high school, waiting to be transferred to the airport for one of the five evacuation flights scheduled for Thursday to the neighboring province of Alberta. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to convene a meeting of the Incident Response Group later on Thursday to discuss the fires. The group, comprised of senior officials and ministers, is responsible for handling crisis situations.
This wildfire season is the worst in Canada’s history, with over 1,000 active fires burning across the country, including 265 in the Northwest Territories. Experts attribute the severity of the wildfires to climate change, which has exacerbated the problem.
Shane Thompson, the territorial environment minister, explained that the evacuation order was issued late Wednesday to allow residents enough time to leave before the weather conditions worsened. Thompson emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the fire’s behavior can change rapidly. While the current conditions are favorable, winds are expected to shift on Saturday, which could have a significant impact on the fire’s progression.
Approximately 65% of the Territories’ population, totaling 46,000 people, will be evacuated. However, the Northwest Territories face limited infrastructure, with only one two-lane road leading out of Yellowknife to the province of Alberta in the south. Alberta has established three official evacuee reception centers for those leaving by road, but the closest center is over 1,100 km away from Yellowknife.
The deadline for residents to leave Yellowknife is noon local time on Friday. Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty stated that special teams are working to clear-cut trees near the city to prevent the spread of flames. Additionally, fire retardant will be used, and sprinkler systems are being checked to ensure they are functioning properly. Alty emphasized the importance of creating fire breaks to slow down the fire’s progress.
In response to social media outrage over soaring prices, Canada’s two largest carriers have announced that they will add flights from Yellowknife and cap fares. Some evacuees will be flown to Calgary, Alberta, where Iain Bushell, Calgary’s emergency management director, assured that the city is prepared to accommodate and support up to 5,000 people for as long as necessary.
This wildfire season has already scorched approximately 134,000 square km (52,000 square miles) of land in Canada, surpassing the 10-year average by more than six times. Nearly 200,000 people have been forced to evacuate at some point during this season.
The Northwest Territories fire service reported that a fire threatening Hay River, a community of approximately 3,000 people further south on Great Slave Lake, has stalled overnight. Mike Westwick, the territories’ fire information officer, described the situation as unimaginable, as the territories have never experienced wildfires of this magnitude before.
The wildfires have also impacted industrial and energy production. Diamond producer De Beers confirmed that its Gahcho Kue mine, located 280 km northeast of Yellowknife, is still operational, although several employees from surrounding communities have been evacuated.
The devastating wildfires in Canada are a reminder of the destructive power of nature. In May 2016, a massive fire destroyed 10% of structures in the northern energy-producing Alberta city of Fort McMurray, resulting in the evacuation of 90,000 residents and the shutdown of over a million barrels per day of oil output. Similarly, in June 2021, 90% of the structures in the British Columbia village of Lytton were destroyed after recording Canada’s hottest-ever temperature.
As the wildfires continue to ravage parts of Canada, the focus remains on protecting lives and minimizing the damage caused by these unprecedented fires.
PAA related questions:
Wildfires threaten the Canadian city of Yellowknife, prompting the evacuation of its residents. Canadian fire crews are working tirelessly to prevent the wildfires from reaching Yellowknife, as all 20,000 residents are being evacuated by car and plane following an evacuation order. The wildfires, located 16 km northeast of the city, pose a significant threat and could reach the outskirts by Saturday if there is no rain.
Thick smoke has engulfed Yellowknife, with water bombers flying low over the city in an effort to combat the flames. The territorial fire service has warned of challenging days ahead, as northwest to west-northwest winds are expected on Friday and Saturday, which could push the fire closer to Yellowknife.
Hundreds of people have lined up outside a local high school, waiting to be transferred to the airport for one of the five evacuation flights scheduled for Thursday to the neighboring province of Alberta. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to convene a meeting of the Incident Response Group later on Thursday to discuss the fires. The group, comprised of senior officials and ministers, is responsible for handling crisis situations.
This wildfire season is the worst in Canada’s history, with over 1,000 active fires burning across the country, including 265 in the Northwest Territories. Experts attribute the severity of the wildfires to climate change, which has exacerbated the problem.
Shane Thompson, the territorial environment minister, explained that the evacuation order was issued late Wednesday to allow residents enough time to leave before the weather conditions worsened. Thompson emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the fire’s behavior can change rapidly. While the current conditions are favorable, winds are expected to shift on Saturday, which could have a significant impact on the fire’s progression.
Approximately 65% of the Territories’ population, totaling 46,000 people, will be evacuated. However, the Northwest Territories face limited infrastructure, with only one two-lane road leading out of Yellowknife to the province of Alberta in the south. Alberta has established three official evacuee reception centers for those leaving by road, but the closest center is over 1,100 km away from Yellowknife.
The deadline for residents to leave Yellowknife is noon local time on Friday. Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty stated that special teams are working to clear-cut trees near the city to prevent the spread of flames. Additionally, fire retardant will be used, and sprinkler systems are being checked to ensure they are functioning properly. Alty emphasized the importance of creating fire breaks to slow down the fire’s progress.
In response to social media outrage over soaring prices, Canada
