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SA国际影视传媒業tSA国际影视传媒檚 life or deathSA国际影视传媒: Tlicho Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty implores Behchoko residents to evacuate

Tlicho Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty has taken it upon himself to go and get people out of harmSA国际影视传媒檚 way in Behchoko.
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Flames can be seen from this aerial shot late Tuesday evening. Tlicho Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty flew into Behchoko himself to try and convince people to go to Yellowknife. Photo supplied

Tlicho Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty has taken it upon himself to go and get people out of harmSA国际影视传媒檚 way in Behchoko.

His wife, Dianne Lafferty, confirmed to SA国际影视传媒 just after midnight Wednesday that he had landed safely after taking off from Yellowknife just before 12 a.m. Lafferty was going door-to-door to get people to leave and head for safer ground as the flames moved in.

In a post to Facebook at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning from Edzo Airport in Behchoko, Lafferty said he was trying to get people to head to Yellowknife.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight around Edzo, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 still some people,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淭his is an emergency (and) we should have everyone on a plane.SA国际影视传媒

He said those who were waiting to get out were to make their way to Edzo Airport; two planes were sitting at the airport when Lafferty posted the video.

In the video, ashes could be seen falling from the sky and Lafferty said things were only getting worse.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 critical now in Behchoko,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淟ives are at stake here, itSA国际影视传媒檚 life or death. We need to get out ASAP.SA国际影视传媒

The fire had taken a massive turn for the worse Tuesday evening with the fire expected to be in Behchoko overnight. Gusting winds as high as 50 km/h was the reason, according to Mike Westwick, wildfire information officer with the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Westwick also indicated that emergency crews were trying to evacuate all remaining residents from the area and were regrouping from a new base away from the blaze. Firefighting stopped as the focus turned to getting people out of harmSA国际影视传媒檚 way.

A Facebook post from Pushp Seth, BehchokoSA国际影视传媒檚 senior adminstrative officer, stated that everyone still in Rae was to evacuate toward Bay Island. That was at around 9 p.m. Tuesday evening.

According to Westwick, structure protection had been set up east of Behchoko, which could provide some protection as it will wet the grounds. Structures have also been sprayed with whatSA国际影视传媒檚 known as FireIce, a gel which is designed to stop embers from igniting a fire. Those embers are coming from Highway 3.

But Westwick warned people to be ready for some property loss and the extent of the losses wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be known until crews can safely check things out.



About the Author: James McCarthy

I'm the managing editor with SA国际影视传媒 and have been so since 2022.
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