Emergency Meeting Called by Canadian Prime Minister to Address Northwest Territories Wildfires

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has swiftly convened an emergency meeting to address the escalating wildfire crisis in the Northwest Territories. Widespread evacuations are underway, including in Yellowknife, the territory’s capital with over 20,000 residents. A mandatory evacuation order was issued, and residents were directed to leave by Friday noon.

The territory government has established evacuation measures, prioritizing those without car options and individuals with health concerns. Canadian Armed Forces are on the ground, providing aid and protection against wildfires.

The Northwest Territories declared a state of emergency and issued evacuation orders earlier this week due to the worsening wildfire situation, with reports indicating that the fires could approach Yellowknife’s outskirts in the coming days. As of Thursday, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported around 1,000 active forest fires in Canada, with 236 of them blazing in the Northwest Territories.