Wildfires menacing the capital of the Northwest Territories crept closer Wednesday while evacuees continued to arrive in Alberta, recounting stories of roads on fire and homes melted to their metal frames.
The N.W.T. government, in its latest fire update, said a blaze had advanced slightly overnight and was within 16 kilometres of Yellowknife, home to 20,000 people.
Yellowknife residents have been told to prepare to leave by Friday at noon. Across the city, residents continued to deal with heavy smoke and falling ash while crews tried to contain the blaze from entering the community.
SA国际影视传媒淎 network of fuel breaks, sprinklers and other protective measures are being put in place by the city of Yellowknife and our team,SA国际影视传媒� stated the N.W.T. government in a fire update posted online Wednesday.
The city was organizing shelters in another part of the community for evacuees from the west end.
N.W.T. fire information officer Mike Westwick said the fire could reach the outskirts of Yellowknife by the weekend if it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 rain.
ALSO READ: Yellowknife hands off wildfire emergency measures responsibilities to GNWT
SA国际影视传媒淭here is rain in the forecast, but weSA国际影视传媒檝e learned this summer that there are no guarantees on things like that.SA国际影视传媒�
He said the fire could also reach Highway 3 SA国际影视传媒� the main ground transportation artery for Yellowknife SA国际影视传媒� by Thursday. An evacuation order has been expanded to residents who live along that route, he said.
The N.W.T. is grappling with more than 200 wildfires that have already burned an area four times the size of Prince Edward Island.
Westwick said eight communities have evacuated, representing 15 per cent SA国际影视传媒� or nearly 6,800 people SA国际影视传媒� of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 population.
SA国际影视传媒淭he human toll of this wildfire season canSA国际影视传媒檛 be overestimated,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
The territorial government declared a state of emergency late Tuesday, allowing it to access resources to combat what itSA国际影视传媒檚 calling an unprecedented wildfire season.
The evacuation orders include Fort Smith, Enterprise, Jean Marie River and Hay River. Many displaced by the fires were relocating to temporary shelters in Alberta.
Many highways have been closed and the territory has had what officials called the largest airlift in its history. Canadian Forces personnel are helping firefighters and have flown evacuees out on Hercules aircraft.
In St. Albert, Alta., on EdmontonSA国际影视传媒檚 outskirts, Tanisha Edison arrived at a fire evacuation centre after a 19-hour drive from her home in Hay River.
Edison, who is days away from giving birth, said the trek took her through the hamlet of Enterprise, home to about 100 people.
SA国际影视传媒淭he town was gone pretty much,SA国际影视传媒� Edison said. SA国际影视传媒淣o buildings left. It was just metal frames melting.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 even read the signs because SA国际影视传媒� when the fire blew through there, they were all melted.
SA国际影视传媒淭rees were like ashes. Everything was like ashes and on fire.SA国际影视传媒�
About 80 per cent of Enterprise, including homes and businesses, was destroyed but everyone made it out alive, said Blair Porter, the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 senior administrative officer.
SA国际影视传媒淛ust a couple days ago, it was a thriving community SA国际影视传媒� now itSA国际影视传媒檚 all gone. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty devastating.SA国际影视传媒�
Evacuee Yvette Bruneau of Hay River said she was dodging flames on the road and driving blind through the smoke trying to get to safety.
SA国际影视传媒淲e couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 see the road, zero visibility,SA国际影视传媒� Bruneau said.
SA国际影视传媒淭he only way I knew I was on the road (is) my car would start tilting (into the ditch).SA国际影视传媒�
She said when she later got out of the car, it had been torched on one side.
SA国际影视传媒淚 phoned my son and I said, SA国际影视传媒榃ell, if I donSA国际影视传媒檛 make it out, I love you.SA国际影视传媒� He said, SA国际影视传媒楳om, I love you, too.SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�
She then told him: SA国际影视传媒淒o not come after me. You will not make it.SA国际影视传媒�
There have been no reports of injuries or fatalities due to the wildfires.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane spoke Wednesday, agreeing to remain in close contact as the wildfire situation develops.
SA国际影视传媒淭he prime minister reaffirmed the Government of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 commitment to provide ongoing assistance to the territory and affected communities,SA国际影视传媒� a readout from TrudeauSA国际影视传媒檚 office said.
In Yellowknife, told staff in an email Tuesday that non-essential employees and membersSA国际影视传媒� families should consider evacuating.
Spokesman Cpl. Matt Halstead said Wednesday that the email was a precautionary measure.
SA国际影视传媒淭he reality for myself and the other members here is that if an evacuation order is given, we donSA国际影视传媒檛 get to go home and attend to our families,SA国际影视传媒� Halstead said in an email.
SA国际影视传媒淥ur focus will be on the people in the city and supporting the tasks related to the evacuation. Allowing us to square away our families now, whether thatSA国际影视传媒檚 having them leave or hunker down, will keep us from worrying as our duties continue.SA国际影视传媒�
have also said that they were dealing with fires from within the city. Officers had made arrests and were looking for suspects in two separate arsons on Tuesday night.
One fire was spotted at Fred Henne Territorial Park, near the airport, and was quickly extinguished by an area resident. Four girls are also accused of trying to light a fire in a green space in an east-end neighbourhood. Police seized aerosol cans and lighters.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is completely beyond understanding that in the face of everything going on in the territory and the threat approaching our city, that people would actively attempt to start fires and endanger our community members,SA国际影视传媒� Halstead said in a news release.
Jamin Mike and Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
