Yellowknife declares state of local emergency due to wildfires in Northwest Territories
The City of Yellowknife declared a state of local emergency due to surrounding wildfires on Monday night.
The declaration was passed at an emergency council meeting Monday evening, and the city says in a tweet it will ensure the community “can exercise precautionary practices and acquire the equipment and resources needed to keep Yellowknife safe.”
It said that could include taking over the use of vehicles or property to respond to the emergency, causing an evacuation for all or a portion of the community, or authorizing qualified people to provide services or aid in emergency responses.
Yellowknife city manager Sheila Bassi-Kellet said during the meeting the municipality is monitoring nearby wildfires with technical assistance from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
“We’re going to continue to monitor that, to gauge at what point it does make sense for us to say Yellowknifers in certain areas of the community that may be deemed to be at risk based on projected fire behaviour ,” she said at a meeting.
She added the state of local emergency declared Monday enables the community to mobilize as much equipment as possible.
On Sunday, strong winds pushed flames through a firebreak and within 30 kilometres of the territorial capital.
The city is not considered threatened, but the air is smoky and residents have been told to prepare to leave.
The city said in its social media post that it is not declaring an evacuation alert or order.
The Canadian Armed Forces has also deployed troops to the Northwest Territories to help with firefighting efforts and logistical support as wildfires have triggered evacuation orders in Canada’s North.
The CAF said personnel being deployed to the region are expected to arrive on Tuesday and be
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