Live: Fort Simpson is ordered to evacuate over nearby wildfire
The village of Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories has been ordered to evacuate due to an encroaching wildfire. Residents are being moved via ferry and airlift as extreme fire weather conditions threaten the area.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the vulnerability of remote northern communities to increasingly severe wildfire seasons.
Highway 7 is closed at Checkpoint heading south because of another fire, leaving Highway 1 east the only road route out. First, evacuees must cross the Liard River on a ferry with limited capacity. The ferry will run through the night and gas stations in Fort Simpson will remain open around the clock. Yellowknife’s multiplex is the designated centre for evacuees. An airlift is beginning, with Air Tindi sending an aircraft to carry some evacuees to Yellowknife. At least two trips are immediately confirmed, with more possibly to follow. Live coverage on this page has concluded. Scroll down for the recap. Advertisement.
The article provides factual, localized reporting on an emergency situation.
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