As authorities attempted to put out the fire, as many as 20,000 Yellowknife residents attempted to escape after the evacuation order was announced Thursday (8/17).
Thick smoke was seen covering the skies over Yellowknife. Authorities said the fire had already broken out 15 kilometers northwest of the city and was expected to reach the outskirts of the city on Saturday (August 19) if it did not rain.
“The coming days are very difficult. Northwest winds Friday and Saturday will push the fire toward Yellowknife,” local firefighters said. Reuters.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened an incident response task force on Thursday to discuss the fire. The working group is made up of senior civil servants and ministers.
This is Canada’s worst fire season, with more than 1,000 active fires across the country, including 265 in the Northwest Territories. Experts say climate change has exacerbated the wildfire problem.
Drought has been a factor in the number and intensity of fires this year, with high temperatures making the situation worse. Much of Canada itself experienced abnormally dry conditions.
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