In photos: Wildfires prompt evacuation orders for thousands in N.W.T., B.C.
Officials in the Northwest Territories are urging thousands of residents remaining in its capital to leave by noon today before a nearby wildfire could cut off access. The evacuation of Yellowknife was ordered late Wednesday and sprinklers, water cannons and fire guards are being set up to protect the city of 20,000 people. At the same time a fast-burning wildfire threatening West Kelowna, B.C., is challenging fire crews as they brace for what the operations director with BC Wildfire Service has predicted will be the most challenging days of the provincial wildfire season. Thousands of people have been placed on evacuation alert in the Okanagan city, while about 800 properties have been placed on evacuation order because of the McDougall Creek wildfire.
Smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire fills the air and nearly blocks out the sun in Kelowna.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Evacuees from Yellowknife are greeted by Aurora Borealis as they arrive to a free campsite provided by High Level, Alberta.Bill Braden/The Canadian Press
The McDougall Creek wildfire burns in the hills of West Kelowna, B.C..DARREN HULL/AFP/Getty Images
Residents who plan to shelter in place stock up on groceries as an evacuation order draws near in Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Residents board buses to the airport at the Yellowknife Flight Registration Centre at Sir John Franklin high school.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Evacuees from Yellowknife queue up to get gas at Big River Service in Ft. Providence, Alberta.Bill Braden/The Canadian Press
People watch from downtown Kelowna, B.C., as the McDougall Creek wildfire burns in the hills above West Kelowna, B.C.Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail
A satellite image shows smoke rising over Yellowknife, Northwest Territories on August 15, 2023.MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/Reuters
The City of Kelowna, B.C., declared a state of emergency overnight while fire crews responded to spot fires coming across Okanagan Lake.Shawn Talbot/The Globe and Mail
Smoke from the McDougall Creek fire rises over Okanagan Lake, across from Kelowna, B.C.Joe O'Connal/The Canadian Press
The McDougall Creek wildfire spreads around Okanagan Lake near Kelowna, B.C.Shawn Talbot/The Globe and Mail
People watch from downtown Kelowna, B.C., as the McDougall Creek wildfire burns in the hills above.Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail
People line up outside a Yellowknife school to register to be evacuated as wildfires threaten the Northwest Territories’ capital city.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Vehicles line up for fuel at Fort Providence, N.W.T., on the only road south from Yellowknife.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
As wildfires threaten the Northwest Territories city of Yellowknife, the sky turns pink overhead.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Flames from the McDougall Creek wildfire advance during the night near Kelowna, B.C.Shawn Talbot/The Globe and Mail
People wait in line at the airport as they prepare to be evacuated from wildfires threatening Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Yellowknife residents embrace as they wait to be evacuated from wildfires.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Lines at the airport in Yellowknife as evacuations continue from wildfires.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Aerial view of Yellowknife as wildfires threaten the Northwest Territories’ capital.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
A helicopter carrying a water bucket passes a sign that warns of forest fire smoke outside Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
An evacuee from Yellowknife arrives at the airport in Edmonton with her dog.AMBER BRACKEN/Reuters
Yellowknife evacuee Jamie Fradsham, her daughter Ivy Droesse, her mom Jackie Fradsham and son Sterling Droesse at Edmonton's airport.AMBER BRACKEN/Reuters
A person stands in Okanagan Lake near downtown Kelowna, B.C., as the McDougall Creek wildfire burns.Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail
Vehicles line up for fuel at Fort Providence, N.W.T., on the only road south from Yellowknife.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Warrant officer Mike Albright updates people waiting in a school gym who registered to be evacuated by plane from Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Keith Swirlle rests in his truck after directing traffic from Yellowknife in Fort Providence, N.W.T.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
The road is closed north to Yellowknife from Fort Providence, N.W.T.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
A long line of cars evacuating from Yellowknife wait to fill up with gas at Fort Providence, N.W.T.,Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Beatrice Bernhardt, Yellowknife resident since 2013, in Calgary's airport after evacuating.Jude Brocke/The Globe and Mail
A resident takes a photo of the burning McDougall Creek wildfire from downtown Kelowna, B.C.Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail
Woman and her dog watching the wildfire from downtown Kelowna, B.C.Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail
A group of people watch from downtown Kelowna, B.C., as the McDougall Creek wildfire burns.Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail
A person watches smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire from downtown Kelowna, B.C.Aaron Hemens/The Globe and Mail
Chuck Davidson of Matrix Aviation, loads supplies for firefighters in Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
A resident waters the trees on his property in the neighbourhood adjacent to Grace Lake in Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
A city worker places hoses along the firebreak in Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Animals are offloaded in Edmonton from a Buffalo Airways plane coming from the Northwest Territories.ANDREJ IVANOV/AFP/Getty Images
Darlene and Wes Churchill are reunited with their son's dog, Rosco, in Edmonton, from a plane in Yellowknife.ANDREJ IVANOV/AFP/Getty Images
Volunteer Edmund Gill clears dry branches to create a firebreak in Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Residents set up sprinklers to protect their homes in the neighbourhood adjacent to Grace Lake in Yellowknife.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters
Smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire fills the air in Kelowna.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire blankets the area on Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press