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Fort Providence Fully Evacuated as Wind-Driven Wildfire Nears

Overnight winds pushed the blaze more than 10 kilometres, bringing it to within about two kilometres of the community.

Overview

  • Territorial officials ordered residents and later emergency and essential personnel to leave immediately, directing evacuees to a reception centre in Hay River.
  • Structure-protection teams installed water cannons and sprinklers at the community edge and widened fire guards with heavy equipment as direct attack was deemed ineffective.
  • Highway 3 north of Fort Providence remains closed to general traffic, though travel south toward Hay River has been facilitated for evacuees.
  • N.W.T. wildfire officials described a roughly 10-kilometre-wide fire front after significant overnight growth driven by severe northerly winds.
  • Fort Providence is the second N.W.T. community under an evacuation order in recent days after Whatì, while Jean Marie River remains under an evacuation notice.