Thousands Evacuated as Wildfires Rage in Canadian Northwest Territories
Thousands of residents in Canada’s Northwest Territories are being forced to evacuate as over 200 wildfires continue to burn, creating dangerous road conditions and limited access to emergency flights. The capital city Yellowknife, home to around 20,000 people, and several other communities have been ordered to evacuate as the fires approach. The infernos in the Northwest Territories are part of over 1,000 fires burning across Canada in what is being termed the country’s worst fire season on record. The smoke from the fires has also traveled into the United States, contributing to harmful pollution and worsening air quality.
Although there is a possibility of rain, strong winds are pushing the fire closer to Yellowknife and a major highway. The Canadian government has promised that nobody will be left behind during the evacuation, and the efforts to get residents out safely will continue throughout the weekend.
While most residents were encouraged to leave via the only road out of Yellowknife, many have requested emergency flights out of the city. The Canadian Armed Forces are assisting with firefighting and airlifting efforts in the Northwest Territories, with several planes and helicopters deployed to support regional emergency crews. Officials said they were confident in their ability to protect the majority of the community from fire damage, but are also working on building fire breaks and applying fire retardant to further safeguard the area.
In addition to the wildfires in the Northwest Territories, the Canadian province of British Columbia is also facing a significant number of active fires, with over 360 reported. Officials in British Columbia are warning of aggressive and unpredictable fire conditions due to strong winds and dry lightning, which will be compounded by existing drought conditions. Evacuation orders are in place for thousands of properties, and a state of emergency has been declared in Kelowna as crews fight spot fires coming from across the Central Okanagan Lake.
The trend of larger and more widespread wildfires in Canada has been pronounced this year, with over six times more land burned compared to the 10-year annual average. The fires have covered more than 13 million hectares, an area larger than Pennsylvania. Lightning has been the primary cause of new fires in British Columbia, creating additional challenges for firefighters.