Canada Wildfires Near Yellowknife Prompt Evacuation Order

Canadian authorities are in a race against time to evacuate nearly 20,000 residents from Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories. A raging wildfire is rapidly approaching the city, prompting firefighters to battle the flames that are now just 10 miles away.

Shane Thompson, the territory’s environment and climate change minister, expressed concern about the worsening wildfire situation, stating that the fire is now a significant threat to the city. However, he assured residents that there is still a safe window for evacuation and urged them to leave by Friday.

Yellowknife, located near the Great Slave Lake, is about 350 miles south of the Arctic Circle. The approaching flames have prompted a long line of cars on the main highway out of the city, with residents advised to head towards Alberta.

Evacuation flights are also being arranged for those who cannot leave by car or have higher risk factors. Smoke from the wildfires has already led to poor air quality across the region, spreading as far as Idaho and Montana.

The wildfires in Canada have burned an area equivalent to the state of Alabama. The intense wildfire activity is driven by record-breaking heat and long-term drought conditions.

Authorities have declared a provincial state of emergency in the Northwest Territories, as firefighters continue to combat the erratic winds and advance of the flames.