Transportation authorities in the Northwest Territories say the highway out of a community near the Alberta boundary that's being evacuated due to wildfires has now closed. The Northwest Territories provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa on June 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
YELLOWKNIFE – The City of Yellowknife has declared a state of local emergency due to surrounding wildfires.
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 says 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.
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 says in its social media post that it is not declaring an evacuation alert or order.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2023.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Jane Groenewegan and her friend drove to High River.
