Evacuation of Yellowknife ordered as wildfire approaches city

PHOTO BY ANGELA GZOWSKI/THE CANADIAN PRESS

An evacuation has been ordered for the City of Yellowknife and some of the surrounding area as wildfires approach.

The Northwest Territories government says residents living along the Ingraham Trail, in Dettah, Kam Lake, Grace Lake and Engle Business District are at highest risk and should evacuate as soon as possible. Other residents have until noon on Friday to leave.

The government says it is safe for residents to drive out of Yellowknife and that if there are smoky conditions, those leaving by highway will be escorted from the city through the active fire zone.

Evacuation flights are available, but the government says only those who don’t have the option of leaving by road should register.

An evacuation Centre is available at the Yellowknife Multiplex for evacuees from Dettah and the Ingraham Trail.

Here’s the document that sets out the exact plan and how you should proceed to evacuate by road or air.

A wildfire has been steadily closing on the city all week, moving within 20 kilometers of Yellowknife on Tuesday and forecast to end Wednesday as close as 11 kilometers away.

Officials believe Thursday’s weather will hold the fire long enough to allow clear passage for thousands of people down Highway 3, the only road connecting Yellowknife to the rest of Canada.