While evacuations are underway across the Hay River region, officials in Yellowknife are urging for calm, as despite smoky conditions, they say the city isn’t currently at risk due to wildfires.
The city says they continue to put in place fire mitigation measures, including fire breaks and sprinklers near infrastructure. Officials are also asking residents to do their part by abiding by the fire bans currently in place, as well as being mindful of throwing cigarette butts, or using equipment that may spark in areas with any dry vegetation.
Residents of Hay River, along with the communities of Enterprise and K’Atl’odeeche, however, have been forced to flee their homes after an evacuation order was issued on Sunday.
Evacuees from those regions are being asked to head to Grande Prairie, Alberta, as several welcome centres will be accepting those from the fire impacted areas.
As of Sunday afternoon, the wildfire is 60 kilometres from the community of Hay River, however, wildfire officials say there is a heightened risk of wildfires progressing towards the community itself on Sunday night.
