Evacuation order and alert issued after 'minor breaches' of fire west of Yellowknife

An evacuation order and an alert has been issued for parts of Highway 3 between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ after N.W.T. Fire said late Sunday night there had been "minor breaches" of lines established around the east end of the fire. 

People with homes between kilometre 284 and 306, also known as the Boundary Creek area, have been ordered to evacuate to Yellowknife, N.W.T Fire said at 11 p.m. Those between kilometre 307 and 324 are on alert — meaning they should be ready to leave on short notice. 

N.W.T. Fire said the evacuation alert is a precaution, and that Yellowknife, N'Dilo and Dettah are not currently at risk. The fire remains 35 kilometres to the west of Yellowknife. 

Despite extreme smoke and ash rolling into Yellowknife Sunday afternoon, Mike Westwick, a fire information officer for the territorial government, said the city was not at a higher wildfire risk than it was earlier in the day.

Westwick said Sunday evening that smoke in the city was to be expected due to westerly winds blowing east. Although orange skies and smoke look concerning, Westwick says the city isn't being threatened. 

"The risk to Dettah has not changed, the risk to Yellowknife has not changed, the risk to the Ingraham Trail has not changed," he said. 

The City of Yellowknife made a similar announcement by email around 6 p.m. on Sunday, telling residents that the smoke was expected. 

Shortly after the smokey weather rolled into the capital, a lineup emerged at the Circle K gas station of people filling up their vehicles. 

Westwick says that the strong winds have actually helped to blow a fire near Dettah away from the community. That fire is burning about 29 kilometres from Dettah.

Westwick said the fire between Behchokǫ and Yellowknife has not grown closer to either community. 

An evacuation alert was issued Saturday for several areas north of the Ingraham Trail near Yellowknife.

That includes those in cabins and homes near North Prosperous Lake, North Prelude Lake and all of River Lake.

That fire had reached Duncan Dam, Island Lake and Neck Lake Sunday morning, however Westwick said structure protection has been successful and there have been no new losses. 

Westwick said the evacuation alert for the North Prosperous Lake, North Prelude Lake and River Lake was issued because they expect to see the fire grow in the coming days and residents should be prepared to leave by Monday morning.

Several highways in the territory are closed due to nearby wildfires. That includes Highway 3 between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ, Highway 5 between Fort Smith and Hay River and parts of Highway 1 between Kakisa and Enterprise.