The recent wildfire incidents across the world are still wreaking havoc as Northwest Territories Residents in the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories were asked to evacuate Wednesday night as wildfires neared the city of 20,000 people.
Residents in the four areas of Yellowknife have been asked to leave as soon as possible as they are the closest to the wildfires.
Addressing the issue, Shane Thompson, environment minister for the Territories said:
“I want to be clear that the city is not in immediate danger and there’s a safe window for residents to leave the city by road and by air.”
The fire was burning about 17 kilometers (10 miles) outside the city. “Without rain, it is possible it will reach the city outskirts by the weekend,” Thompson said.
Eight communities totaling nearly 6,800 people, or 15% of the Northwest Territories population, have already evacuated, Mike Westwick, the region’s fire information officer, said earlier in the day.
More than 200 wildfires have already burned a widespread area of the Northwest Territories.
Canada has seen a record number of wildfires this year. More than 21,000 square kilometers (8,108 miles) have burned.
