Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation declares state of emergency over wildfires and smoke
CBC
The Vuntut Gwitchin government in Old Crow, Yukon, has declared a state of emergency because of nearby wildfires and heavy smoke in the community. It's also asking the territorial government for more help to prepare for "escalating conditions."
"People in the community are really just kind of gathering and sitting by, anxiously waiting to see what happens with the fires. And right now, the most critical concern for the community is the smoke," said Vuntut Gwitchin Chief Pauline Frost on Friday morning.
"It's gotten worse overnight."
Frost said the smoke was so thick on Thursday evening that an Air North flight was not able to land at the local airport.
"I don't know that we can get planes in and out of Old Crow right now, just given the density of smoke."
The community has been under an evacuation alert since earlier this week, with the First Nation asking residents to prepare by packing a three-day evacuation bag. There are several wildfires burning in the area, but Yukon emergency officials say none are currently threatening Old Crow.
However, the First Nation's council passed a resolution on Thursday stating that traditional knowledge of wildfires "indicate that the threat posed by the active wildfires is serious and imminent."
Frost said the declaration is a way to help mobilize resources.
"That means, you know, spending money moving people out of community, paying for accommodations, potentially having evacuations associated with smoke," she said.
"It's going to be hot and again this weekend, so you know, just for protection and putting resources and putting manpower, putting people together, we wanted to ensure that we had all the tools available to us."
Frost said some residents with respiratory issues have already been moved out of the community. The First Nation has also opened the Darius Elias Community Centre as a place where people can gather and get away from the smoke.
"We're trying to bring more games and maybe we'll put a movie on so people can stay. [We're] just trying to think of ways that we can help individuals in the community stay calm, and address their health needs," Frost said.
The emergency declaration also requests "urgent assistance in preparation for escalating conditions" from the Yukon government, though it's not clear how much help might be available.
The declaration says that assistance could include "additional firefighter resources, emergency social services, evacuation assistance, clean air environments, shelter supports, and alternative air support if regular flight operations at the Old Crow airport cease."