The capital city of Yellowknife – home to about 20,000 – and several other Northwest Territories communities have been ordered to evacuate as crews battle 236 active wildfires in the region.
The infernos in the Northwest Territories are among more than 1,000 fires burning across Canada as the country endures its worst fire season on record.
The Canadian Armed Forces are assisting with firefighting and airlifting efforts in the Northwest Territories.
“We’re all tired of the word unprecedented, yet there is no other way to describe this situation in the Northwest Territories,” Premier Caroline Cochrane said in a statement Wednesday night.
“Evacuation flights should be used as a last resort for those who do not have the option to evacuate by road,” territory officials said.
Persons:
Justin Trudeau, “, ” Premier Caroline Cochrane, Bill Braden, Ruoy Pineda, ” Pineda, ”, We’ve, we’ll
Organizations:
CNN, Canadian, Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Air Force, ” Premier, CBC, Canadian Press
Locations:
Canada’s, Territories, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, “, Edmonton