This is the second time this summer that a wildfire has forced the town to leave
Residents of Hay River, N.W.T., are fleeing a nearby wildfire for the second time this summer. This comes after the town took in people from Fort Smith who were fleeing their own wildfire.
Also, people who live in K’atl’odeeche First Nation and Enterprise are being told to leave.
In Facebook posts on Sunday afternoon, N.W.T. Fire and the Town of Hay River told people who had to leave their homes to go to Alberta.
Last week, officials from the N.W.T. said this was the worst wildfire season the territory has ever seen.
Hay River Mayor Kandis Jameson told people from Fort Smith who were staying at the evacuation center that the situation was getting worse. She told people to leave right away if they could, but to stay calm and let them know they had time to leave. She also said that people who have trouble breathing should leave as soon as possible.
The wildfire is near Kakisa and Enterprise, and by this afternoon, it is expected to reach Highway 1. 60 km from Hay River is where the fire is.
This is the second time this summer that the town has had to leave because of a wildfire.
Residents of Fort Smith who had to leave on Saturday because of a wildfire near that community were sent to the community.
A nearby wildfire has also forced the people of Jean Marie River First Nation to leave their homes.
Flora Abraham was staying in Hay River after being forced to leave Fort Smith.
“I can’t believe we’re here, and I can’t believe we have to leave after being here for maybe 20 hours,” she said.
She is going to High Level, Alberta, and hopes to be there by early evening. Abraham told her that as the head of the family, it was her job to stay happy and keep everyone else’s spirits up.
Abraham said that she is glad that no one has been hurt or killed by the fires.
Rocky Simpson, the MLA for Hay River South, said that people should meet in downtown Hay River at the arena. He said that school buses are getting ready to take people to the south. He said that people should stay calm, but he also told them to leave their homes.
Simpson said, “We want you to leave for two reasons: your safety and the safety of you and your family, as well as the safety of others in town who are protecting the community and firefighters.”
A post from the federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Harjit Sajjan, says that the federal government has promised to help the NWT.
He doesn’t say what help they’ll be giving, but he does say that the Canadian Forces are getting ready.