Companies City of Yellowknife FollowYELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories, Aug 16 (Reuters) - A huge wildfire in northern Canada is creeping closer to the capital of the Northwest Territories and could reach the outskirts of Yellowknife by the weekend unless rain comes, the territorial government said on Wednesday.
Canada is enduring its worst-ever wildfire season with more than 1,000 active fires burning across the country, including 230 in the Northwest Territories.
Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane said some Yellowknife residents were preemptively leaving the city but urged people to remain calm and warned that highways could close suddenly because of the fire risk.
The Northwest Territories declared a state of emergency late Tuesday and the Canadian military has been mobilized to help tackle the blazes and airlift some residents to safety.
Cochrane spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the wildfire situation on Wednesday afternoon.
Persons:
Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane, I've, Cochrane, Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Ismail Shakil, David Ljunggren, Sandra Maler, Chris Reese, Diane Craft
Organizations:
Northwest, Northwest Territories Premier, City, Northwest Territories, Canadian, Thomson
Locations:
Yellowknife, YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories, Canada, Enterprise, Alberta, Sunday, City, Western Canada, Pacific, British Columbia, Cathedral, Keremeos, Ottawa