'Everyone should leave tonight': Over 19,000 residents flee Yellowknife as wildfires approach
CTV
Amid evacuation orders, the mayor of Yellowknife is urging non-essential workers to leave by Friday night as wildfires remain 15 km northwest of the city’s boundaries.
Mayor of Yellowknife Rebecca Alty says remaining non-essential residents should leave by Friday night amid ongoing wildfires in the Northwest Territories.
In an update Friday night, N.W.T. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Shane Thompson said over 19,000 people have left Yellowknife so far.
He said as of Friday evening 5,000 vehicles left the city, 3,800 people were airlifted out and 15,000 others travelled by road to safety.
Emergency Management Organization information officer Jennifer Young confirmed out of the 2,600 people left in the territorial capital,1,600 are non-essential workers.
"Everyone should leave tonight by the highway or flights," said Alty.
Crews are urging remaining residents to drive out or shelter at Sir John Franklin High School, the nearest available evacuation shelter in the city. Crews say evacuation flights to Manitoba are available throughout Friday night.
"It is a real possibility that highways and the airport could be compromised by this wildfire. So please get out now," said Thompson.
