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.
At 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, people who had not yet left Hay River were told to go to the airport instead of driving out. A fire broke out near Paradise Gardens and Garden Road, making it hard for people to get from Hay River to Enterprise.
In a Facebook post, the town of Hay River said, “People should leave their homes and go to the Hay River airport to be picked up by plane.”
“The Hay River Airport is the place to go if there is a need to shelter in place.”
Also, people who live in K’atl’odeeche First Nation and Enterprise are being told to leave.
The town’s emergency management coordinator is telling people who are still in Fort Smith, N.W.T. to stay put because the fire could reach the west end of the town Sunday night.
Wood Buffalo National Park said on their Facebook page that by midnight, the fire should be within five kilometers of the west end of the community.
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 am shocked that we got to this point and I’m surprised that we have to vacate here after being here maybe 20 hours,” she said.
She’ll be heading to High Level, Alta., and expects to be there by the early evening. Abraham said that as the family matriarch, it’s her role to stay positive and keep her family’s spirits up.
Abraham said she’s happy that there’s been no injuries or deaths from the fires.
Rocky Simpson, MLA for Hay River South, said that residents are asked to meet at the arena in downtown Hay River. He said school buses are lining up to take evacuees south. While he said people should keep calm, he also urges residents to follow the evacuation order.
“We want you to leave for two reasons, the safety of yourself and your family but also the safety of others that are in town protecting the community and firefighters as well,” Simpson said.
The federal government has promised assistance to the N.W.T., according to a post from federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan.
He doesn’t specify what assistance they’ll be providing but says that the Canadian Forces are mobilizing.
For those that require fuel, Alberta Transport has fuel services at Steen River — about 160 km south of Hay River. Staff from Alberta Transport will also travel north on the highway with jerry cans for those who need.