YELLOWKNIFE — Thousands of people have fled the Northwest Territories' capital and some neighbouring communities under the threat of encroaching wildfires.Â
Here are the latest developments (all times are MT):
7:50 p.m.
Officials in the Northwest Territories say 19,000 people have followed an evacuation order and left Yellowknife.
They say about 2,600 people remain in the capital -- 1,000 of them essential workers.
Wildfire information officer Mike Westwick says the weather has been helpful.
Cooler temperatures and moisture in the air, along with firefighting efforts, have helped keep the blaze about 15 kilometres from the northwest edge of the city.
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7:40 p.m.
Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty is urging anyone still in Yellowknife to leave the city tonight by highway or air.
She says while smoke lifted for a bit today, it has come back.
And she says the blaze at the edge of the city remains a significant threat.
Shane Thompson, the territory's environment minister, says people staying behind are endangering themselves and others.
He says the highways and airport could be compromised if the wildfire moves quickly, so people need to "get out now."
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7:20 p.m.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has met with wildfire evacuees from the Northwest Territories at an evacuation centre in Edmonton.
He says many are worried about their homes but are finding ways to power through.
Thousands have made long drives to get to safety in Alberta and Trudeau says the evacuation has been done in a thoughtful way.
He also says it’s important to listen to evacuation orders and that the fire situation is extreme.Â
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4:25 p.m.
People who have been affected by the wildfires in the Northwest Territories are being encouraged to register with the Canadian Red Cross.
The humanitarian agency says registration ensures people can be reached when services and assistance become available.
It says it also helps them to understand how many people need help.
The Red Cross is helping the City of Edmonton with emergency lodging for people arriving at the EXPO Centre.Â
It is also providing supplies such as cots and blankets throughout Alberta.Â
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4:05 p.m.
The City of Edmonton says it has started to accept residents evacuated from Yellowknife at the EXPO Centre.
Officials say in a statement that a total of 974 residents and 60 pets have registered at the centre.
The city says the EXPO Centre is experiencing long lineups and registrations are ongoing.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to stop by the centre this afternoon and is scheduled to give a public statement early this evening.
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3:30 p.m.
Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty says the evacuation of the city is going a little slower than she would have liked, but it is emptying.
She says there were some lineups and frustrations with evacuation flights yesterday but today has been smoother.
Alty says a few people are reluctant to leave, but she is pleading with them to head south.
She says the high winds are an imminent threat to the city.
Other than emergency teams, crews working on the fire, utilities workers and RCMP, Alty says there are few left in the town.
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2:40 p.m.
The Manitoba government says it's preparing for the arrival of up to 3,000 evacuees fleeing wildfires in the Northwest Territories.
Some are expected to start arriving on a charter flight as early as tomorrow.
The province says arrangements are being finalized to provide hotel rooms in Winnipeg, Brandon and Portage la Prairie.
Transportation, meals and essential health supports are to be provided as needed.
The Manitoba Wildfire Service is also preparing to send an air tanker group and some additional ground crew to the North in the coming days.Â
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2:30 p.m.
Corie Dixon of Peace River, Alta., says she has been driving around her town checking on wildfire evacuees from the Northwest Territories by looking for their polar bear licence plates.
She says she has opened up her home for people to come in and shower.
Dixon, who has lived in Peace River for about 20 years, says she has met 100 to 150 evacuees since Wednesday.
She says she is worried about some of her family members who live in Yellowknife, particularly two nephews who stayed back to help.
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2:15 p.m.
Evacuee Stuart York says he had a feeling he would have to flee Yellowknife the day before evacuation orders were made.
So his family packed the camper and he, his wife, two daughters, and two dogs drove 24 hours from Yellowknife to Peace River, leaving the rest of their possessions in the evacuation zone.
He says he moved to Yellowknife in 1989 and is familiar with the evacuation process for wildfires.
He says he and his wife left a lot in Yellowknife, but they have what matters: their kids and their pets.
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1:10 p.m.Â
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to visit an evacuation centre in Edmonton that is taking in people fleeing Yellowknife as a wildfire approaches.
An itinerary released by his office says the event at the Expo Centre is closed to media.Â
The centre opened to evacuees earlier today and is offering food, clothing, temporary shelter and other supports.
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12:35 p.m.
RCMP say officers are investigating another case of arson in Yellowknife.
Cpl. Matt Halstead says the fire was set in a remote area on the city's outskirts behind wildfire defences and could have spread significantly.
Officers were able to quickly extinguish the blaze with the help of the fire department.
It's the third reported arson in Yellowknife since Wednesday, when residents were first told they should evacuate due to an approaching wildfire.
Halstead says there is no evidence of looting in the city, adding officers are on patrol to help deter any criminal activity.
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12 p.m.
It's not yet clear how many people are left in Yellowknife as the noon deadline to leave the wildfire-threatened capital city passes.
Some are still waiting to board evacuation flights to Calgary, while a few have stayed behind to feed fire crews and other emergency officials.
The city was described as a ghost town ahead of the deadline set by officials.
The goal is to get everyone out should the fire, about 15 kilometres from the city's outskirts, advance and cut off access.
Officials said roads would stay open and flights would continue past the deadline as long as it is safe.
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11:40 a.m.
The city of Calgary says it received 14 evacuee flights from Northwest Territories yesterday.
It says there were 1,269 passengers on the flights.
The city says in a statement that another 26 flights are expected today, with about 2,300 more people.
It notes a total of 495 hotel rooms have been provided to evacuees so far, but adds the number is changing rapidly as more people arrive.
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11:25 a.m.
Extra flights are being added in Yellowknife to help facilitate the evacuation of residents from the embattled city.
Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez says the government is working with all airlines to make sure there is capacity for those who still need to leave.
The federal government is also contracting private aircraft to supplement the efforts of the military.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says he can't say how many people have been safely evacuated but notes the process has been going well.
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11:05 a.m.
Wildfire smoke from Western Canada and the Northwest Territories has drifted as far east as Ontario, creating hazardous air quality in the north.
Environment Canada says smoke in the northwestern reaches of Ontario could cause eyes and throats to itch and irritated breathing.
Similar statements have been issued for northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, along with large swaths of Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.
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10:28 a.m.
Yellowknife was described as a ghost town ahead of a noon deadline officials set for residents to leave the wildfire-threatened capital city. Â
One grocery store and a pharmacy remain open — as does a bar, where exhausted workers gather at the end of long shifts.
Kieron Testart, who was going door-to-door checking on people, says it's "kind of like having a pint at the end of the world."Â
He says the evacuation has been orderly so far, without major incidents.Â
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10:15 a.m.
The military says it's continuing to help get evacuees out of Yellowknife as a wildfire threatens the capital of the Northwest Territories.
It says the first Canadian Armed Forces aircraft — a Hercules transport plane — flew 79 people to Edmonton on Thursday, and more flights are planned today.
The military is also providing aircraft for logistical tasks and emergency evacuations.
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10:05 a.m.
A large Edmonton convention centre is set to become the latest Alberta refuge for Yellowknifers fleeing wildfires in the Northwest Territories.Â
The City of Edmonton says the EXPO Centre will start taking in evacuees as of noon today.Â
The centre will offer food, clothing, temporary shelter and other supports.
It’s one of several centres in Alberta providing support to the thousands of residents evacuating from the territorial capital.Â
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8:10 a.m.Â
A number of federal ministers are set to take questions this morning about the government's response to wildfires in the Northwest Territories.Â
The 10 a.m. news conference is set to feature the ministers of emergency preparedness, national defence, citizens' services and transport, along with the parliamentary secretary for the minister of environment and climate change.Â
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says the military is aiding the evacuation, logistics and firefighting efforts, alongside support from a number of federal agencies and departments.Â
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6:22 a.m.
Officials say an expansive network of fire guards, sprinklers and water cannons are being set up to protect Yellowknife from an approaching wildfire.Â
The wildfire is about 15 kilometres away from the capital of the Northwest Territories, where residents have been told to evacuate by noon today.Â
While there's a chance of some limited additional showers today, officials say they can't count on the rain to help tackle the blaze.Â
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5:03 a.m.
Another 22 evacuation flights are scheduled today as officials try to get thousands of people out of Yellowknife.Â
The flights are expected to have space for about 1,800 people.Â
The highway out of the Northwest Territories' capital city remains open for those evacuating by road.
Officials say highway managers are piloting drivers through fire zones to ensure their safety.Â
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4:35 a.m.Â
Officials in the Northwest Territories are forecasting a critical, challenging day in the effort to battle wildfires threatening Yellowknife. Â
They say northwest winds today and Saturday combined with minimal rain could mean the fire reaches the city limits by the weekend.Â
Officials say they are doing "everything possible" to slow the growth of the fire.
Airtankers continued to fly missions overnight to keep the highway out of Yellowknife open, as officials urge residents to leave the city by noon today.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2023.Â
The Canadian Press
