Emergency and essential personnel have now been told to leave Fort Providence, N.W.T., after an evacuation order for community members began late Sunday.
“Fort Providence residents and emergency/essential personnel must evacuate now,” the territorial government says in its latest bulletin.
“The area has an immediate threat due to a wildfire and is not safe. Everyone must leave now.”
People have been told to head to the reception centre in Hay River, about 180 kilometres away by road, for further instructions.
Late Sunday, the fire was two kilometres north of Fort Providence.
Fort Providence is the second N.W.T. community ordered to evacuate in recent days. On Friday, Whatı̀ residents were told to evacuate due to a nearby wildfire. Many people from the community of about 600, roughly 250 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife, have gone to the capital city or Behchokǫ̀.
More to come