Residents have heeded warnings to evacuate the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories as a wildfire burns just miles outside the city of 20,000. Meanwhile, a wildfire set homes ablaze in a…
By TAMMY WEBBER and JIM MORRIS
Fire Information Officer Mike Westwick told The Associated Press by phone Friday evening that the fire did not advance Friday and was still 15 kilometers northwest of the the city, partly because cooler temperatures created less fire activity and cleared some smoke, allowing air tankers to safely fly and drop fire retardant.
Gas stations that still had fuel were open Friday, though the city was virtually empty, with one grocery store, a pharmacy and a bar still open. Some first responders became trapped while rescuing people who failed to evacuate, said Jason Brolund, chief of the West Kelowna fire department, who said residents face another “scary night.” There was no known loss of life.
In Yellowknife, northwest winds combined with minimal rain were complicating efforts to slow the fire — one of hundreds raging in the territories — which could reach the city limits by the weekend, emergency officials said. There was a chance of limited rain on Friday, but officials said it likely wouldn’t be enough to stop the fire.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Entire City of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Ordered to Evacuate as Wildfire Approaches'We're all tired of the word unprecedented, yet there is no other way to describe this situation in the Northwest Territories,' said a province official.
Read more »
City empties as thousands flee huge wildfire closing in on capital of Canada’s Northwest TerritoriesResidents are heeding warnings to evacuate the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories as a wildfire burns toward the city of 20,000. Meanwhile, a wildfire set homes ablaze in a city in Bri…
Read more »
Residents in the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories ordered to evacuate as wildfires nearResidents in the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories were ordered to evacuate Wednesday night as wildfires neared the city of 20,000 people.
Read more »
Residents ordered to evacuate the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories as wildfires nearResidents in the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories were ordered to evacuate Wednesday night as wildfires neared the city of 20,000 people
Read more »
Wildfires prompt evacuation order for residents in capital of Canada’s Northwest TerritoriesPeople in the four areas of Yellowknife at highest risk should leave as soon as possible and residents in other areas have until noon Friday to leave, officials said.
Read more »
Wildfire forces evacuation order for residents in capital of Canada's Northwest TerritoriesCanadian officias say air evacuations were to begin for people in the path of wildfires in the Northwest Territories as the blazes neared Yellowknife, a city of 20,000 people.
Read more »