By: Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — Wildfires burning in the Northwest Territories in northern Canada have prompted officials to order the evacuation of the capital of the Northwest Territories.

All 20,000 residents of Yellowknife have until noon Friday to leave.

“I want to be clear that the city is not in immediate danger and there’s a safe window for residents leave the city by road and by air,” territorial Environment Minister Shane Thomson said Wednesday.

“Without rain, it is possible it will reach the city outskirts by the weekend,” he said.

People are advised to leave as soon as possible.

The government says it is safe to drive out of Yellowknife but tell people to make sure they have enough fuel.

For those who cannot leave by road, evacuation flights will be available.

Evacuation centers have been set up in several communities in the province of Alberta, directly south of the Northwest Territories, including the capital of Edmonton.

Edmonton is about 1,400 kilometers south of Yellowknife, a 15-hour drive.

Several other settlements in the sparsely populated territories have already been evacuated.

The tiny remote hamlet of enterprise has been completely destroyed by fire.

So far there have been no reports of deaths from the fires.
(Eagle News Service)