VANCOUVER, British Columbia —
Firefighters battling wildfires in western Canada received reinforcements and experienced milder weather on Saturday. This comes after the nation’s worst fire season on record, which resulted in the destruction of structures, heavy smoke pollution, and the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
The flames were successfully controlled 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories. Firefighters also had a temporary respite in Kelowna, British Columbia. However, the battle is far from over, especially considering the forecasted dry and windy weather in the coming days.
Mike Westwick, the wildfire information officer for Yellowknife, emphasized that the situation is still dangerous and not suitable for residents to return. He stated, “We’re by no means out of the woods yet.”
According to the Canadian Press, there are over 380 wildfires burning across the province of British Columbia, with 150 of them classified as out of control. Additionally, there are 236 fires currently burning in the Northwest Territories.
During a news conference on Saturday evening, Shane Thompson, the province’s minister of environment and climate change, reported that the fires near Yellowknife hadn’t significantly grown in the past few days due to favorable weather conditions. However, Thompson cautioned that the incoming hot weather would pose new challenges.
Rebecca Alty, the Mayor of Yellowknife, encouraged residents to prioritize their safety and support firefighting efforts by staying away from the town. She assured residents that patrols were monitoring the streets and homes to prevent looting.
Westwick expressed concern, stating, “This fire’s taking a nap. It’s going to wake up, and we still have a serious situation to handle here.” The majority of Yellowknife’s 20,000 residents have evacuated since the issuance of the evacuation order on Wednesday, resulting in a nearly deserted city.
As of now, the escape route out of Yellowknife is deemed safe. However, about 2,600 people remain in the town, including emergency teams, firefighters, utility workers, and police officers, along with some residents who have refused to leave.
Charlotte Morritt, a journalist with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, decided to evacuate with her 4-month-old son to Whitehorse, Yukon, due to the hazardous smoke conditions. Her partner stayed behind to safeguard their property and assist in creating firebreaks.
In an effort to combat the flames near Yellowknife, air tankers dropped water and fire retardant, while firefighters established fire lines and deployed hose and pumps. This year, Canada has witnessed an unprecedented number of wildfires, which have covered over 137,000 square kilometers (53,000 square miles) of land.
On Saturday, British Columbia declared a state of emergency, with approximately 35,000 people ordered to evacuate wildfire zones. An additional 30,000 people were put under an evacuation alert, indicating that they should be prepared to leave. Premier David Eby described the situation as “grim” and emphasized the need for rapid response.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his support for the Yellowknife evacuees and applauded the efforts of firefighters, police, and other emergency personnel who have tackled natural disasters throughout the summer. He acknowledged the loss and increased frequency of extreme weather events and praised the resilience of Canadians.
Reporting from Portland, Maine, this article was written by Christopher Sharp. Contributing to this report was Associated Press journalist Andrea Thomas from Chicago.
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