Yellowknife, NWT, Canada evacuating due to encroaching fire
August 17, 2023 8:30 AM Subscribe
Yellowknife, the largest settlement, capital, and only city in Canada's Northwest Territories, is being totally evacuated by land and air due to an encroaching fire.
The incredibly useful website firesmoke.ca shows, as of this writing, massive fires to the west, north, and northeast of the city. I'd like to point out for folks like me that worry about such things, that pets will be evacuated with their owners. I know there are a few site users who live or have lived in Yellowknife, and all of our thoughts are with them.
The incredibly useful website firesmoke.ca shows, as of this writing, massive fires to the west, north, and northeast of the city. I'd like to point out for folks like me that worry about such things, that pets will be evacuated with their owners. I know there are a few site users who live or have lived in Yellowknife, and all of our thoughts are with them.
I can’t find the words to express how much I hope for those poor folks. Hope seems weak, and I wish I believed enough to pray.
Can anyone find a place to donate to the evacuation services?
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:51 AM on August 17, 2023
Can anyone find a place to donate to the evacuation services?
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:51 AM on August 17, 2023
Yikes. Where are they evacuating to? The evacuations page lists some shelter options a 12-16 hour drive away in Alberta. I imagine there's nowhere closer that can handle very many people. How many folks will they be able to fly out? The article sounds like it's definitely a limited option.
Having to evacuate sucks, we had to evacuate 4 years ago for a nearby fire. And just yesterday I emailed friends in Washington, CA; they evacuated that whole small town for a fire. Evacuation orders come swiftly and are terribly disruptive, I was hoping I could help a little by at least providing a comfortable nearby option. (They're OK.)
It's worth making a loose evacuation / emergency plan for yourself no matter where you live. Consider what you would take, where you would go, and how many minutes it would take you to get out if you had to go in a hurry. Have two or three alternate routes pre-planned. Share those plans with your loved ones.
We keep gas in the car at all times during fire season here in the Sierra. By which I mean all year.
posted by Nelson at 8:54 AM on August 17, 2023 [15 favorites]
Having to evacuate sucks, we had to evacuate 4 years ago for a nearby fire. And just yesterday I emailed friends in Washington, CA; they evacuated that whole small town for a fire. Evacuation orders come swiftly and are terribly disruptive, I was hoping I could help a little by at least providing a comfortable nearby option. (They're OK.)
It's worth making a loose evacuation / emergency plan for yourself no matter where you live. Consider what you would take, where you would go, and how many minutes it would take you to get out if you had to go in a hurry. Have two or three alternate routes pre-planned. Share those plans with your loved ones.
We keep gas in the car at all times during fire season here in the Sierra. By which I mean all year.
posted by Nelson at 8:54 AM on August 17, 2023 [15 favorites]
Slight aside: as a Canadian living stateside, nothing warms my heart more than CBC news videos. There’s is something so sincere, yet folksy, and normal about Canadian news segments. It’s clear the interviewer and interviewee are putting on their professional faces here, but it lacks the weird kind of polish of US news, and I love it.
I hope this fire is abated and the whole evacuation turns out to be a nothingburger. We cherish the north.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:54 AM on August 17, 2023 [16 favorites]
I hope this fire is abated and the whole evacuation turns out to be a nothingburger. We cherish the north.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:54 AM on August 17, 2023 [16 favorites]
Grist.org: Canada’s Northwest Territories declare a state of emergency as more than 230 wildfires rage
More than 230 fires are burning in the Northwest Territories of Canada, scorching over 8,000 miles of forest, and displacing hundreds of Indigenous and First Nations peoples. The population of the Northwest Territories is nearly 50 percent Indigenous.
“It’s all just really terrifying,” said Morgan Tsetta, a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in a TikTok video she released Tuesday. Tsetta lives in Yellowknife, the region’s capital city, which she said was at risk of evacuation and that residents were preparing go bags in case they had to flee.
With the only road leading out of Yellowknife blocked due to the fires, Tsetta said alternate routes could take hours.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:55 AM on August 17, 2023 [6 favorites]
More than 230 fires are burning in the Northwest Territories of Canada, scorching over 8,000 miles of forest, and displacing hundreds of Indigenous and First Nations peoples. The population of the Northwest Territories is nearly 50 percent Indigenous.
“It’s all just really terrifying,” said Morgan Tsetta, a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in a TikTok video she released Tuesday. Tsetta lives in Yellowknife, the region’s capital city, which she said was at risk of evacuation and that residents were preparing go bags in case they had to flee.
With the only road leading out of Yellowknife blocked due to the fires, Tsetta said alternate routes could take hours.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:55 AM on August 17, 2023 [6 favorites]
Cabin.org: Live: Thousands leave Yellowknife as wildfire approaches
The Northwest Territories’ capital is emptying out after government officials said they had until Friday to get out before wildfires could overrun the area.
While the forecast isn’t certain, the territory’s wildfire agency said that if rain does not materialize on Thursday, a wildfire 16 kilometres west of Yellowknife could reach its outskirts by the weekend – and another fire could reach homes along the Ingraham Trail, northeast of the city, by Friday.
Ingraham Trail residents, residents of Dettah to the east of Yellowknife, and people living on Yellowknife’s western edge were told to get out now – on Wednesday night if they could – in an announcement that came early on Wednesday evening.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:58 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
The Northwest Territories’ capital is emptying out after government officials said they had until Friday to get out before wildfires could overrun the area.
While the forecast isn’t certain, the territory’s wildfire agency said that if rain does not materialize on Thursday, a wildfire 16 kilometres west of Yellowknife could reach its outskirts by the weekend – and another fire could reach homes along the Ingraham Trail, northeast of the city, by Friday.
Ingraham Trail residents, residents of Dettah to the east of Yellowknife, and people living on Yellowknife’s western edge were told to get out now – on Wednesday night if they could – in an announcement that came early on Wednesday evening.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 8:58 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Here's a couple of large scale maps of the fires: satellite map of hotspots, hand-mapped fire perimeters. I can't link the relevant view for the second one; click "overlays" and select "Fire Perimeter Estimate" instead of "Fire Danger". (actually all the layers are interesting). Here's a screenshot.
posted by Nelson at 9:06 AM on August 17, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Nelson at 9:06 AM on August 17, 2023 [5 favorites]
I'd like to make the ask that we keep the thread focused on NWT instead of rerouting to the US. It hasn't happened yet but it inevitably does.
Aside from that, I did a double take this morning when reading the news because oh my god, they are evacuating an entire city up there, and the capital at that. Some of those photos are just horrific.
posted by Kitteh at 9:12 AM on August 17, 2023 [21 favorites]
Aside from that, I did a double take this morning when reading the news because oh my god, they are evacuating an entire city up there, and the capital at that. Some of those photos are just horrific.
posted by Kitteh at 9:12 AM on August 17, 2023 [21 favorites]
My first thought was evacuate to where?
It's long way to anywhere.
'St. Albert and Grande Prairie are now at capacity, and no new evacuees will be accepted. Evacuees who are currently receiving supports in either of these communities will continue to receive supports."
Grande Prairie is a 1200 kilometer (750 mile) drive from Yellowknife.
posted by yyz at 9:13 AM on August 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
It's long way to anywhere.
'St. Albert and Grande Prairie are now at capacity, and no new evacuees will be accepted. Evacuees who are currently receiving supports in either of these communities will continue to receive supports."
Grande Prairie is a 1200 kilometer (750 mile) drive from Yellowknife.
posted by yyz at 9:13 AM on August 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
My team talked about it this morning in our office meeting. Like Hawaii, any building materials will have to be hauled in a long damn way to get things back to how they were. There's no short-cut for distance.
Good luck, Canadian friends.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:15 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Good luck, Canadian friends.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:15 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Yikes. Where are they evacuating to? The evacuations page lists some shelter options a 12-16 hour drive away in Alberta. I imagine there's nowhere closer that can handle very many people.
Yes. I think it is worth pointing out that Yellowknife is the largest community in the NWT by a wide margin. Nearly half the population of the entire territory lives in Yellowknife and the next largest community, Hay River, only has a population of ~3500. There really are not communities in the north that could have supported such large evacuation until you get to all the way south to Grande Prairie (where the evacuation centers are already at capacity). Hence why some are being directed to Red Deer of all places: evacuation centers further north are at capacity.
I do wonder why the Edmonton evacuation center (at the Expo center) is closed? They have opened centers in St. Albert, Leduc, Red Deer ... so why not Edmonton?
posted by selenized at 9:16 AM on August 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
Yes. I think it is worth pointing out that Yellowknife is the largest community in the NWT by a wide margin. Nearly half the population of the entire territory lives in Yellowknife and the next largest community, Hay River, only has a population of ~3500. There really are not communities in the north that could have supported such large evacuation until you get to all the way south to Grande Prairie (where the evacuation centers are already at capacity). Hence why some are being directed to Red Deer of all places: evacuation centers further north are at capacity.
I do wonder why the Edmonton evacuation center (at the Expo center) is closed? They have opened centers in St. Albert, Leduc, Red Deer ... so why not Edmonton?
posted by selenized at 9:16 AM on August 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
listen to Nelson please.
several years ago a dear friend and her 2 teenage kids barely made it out of their house with the literal clothes on their back and NOTHING else. they would have died if they had hesitated at all. they lost everything. luckily the large and loving communities they share were able to donate $$$$ for them to get a new place and the stuff they needed to make it a home.
put together a go bag and some emergency options. (I say, as I think about how I have not personally done this...)
this situation in Canada is terrifying and my heart breaks for the residents of Yellowknife who may lose their homes, their town, their livelihoods.
posted by supermedusa at 9:19 AM on August 17, 2023 [10 favorites]
several years ago a dear friend and her 2 teenage kids barely made it out of their house with the literal clothes on their back and NOTHING else. they would have died if they had hesitated at all. they lost everything. luckily the large and loving communities they share were able to donate $$$$ for them to get a new place and the stuff they needed to make it a home.
put together a go bag and some emergency options. (I say, as I think about how I have not personally done this...)
this situation in Canada is terrifying and my heart breaks for the residents of Yellowknife who may lose their homes, their town, their livelihoods.
posted by supermedusa at 9:19 AM on August 17, 2023 [10 favorites]
Headed to Ontario on Saturday, good luck to those NW of there.
Damn.
Here is a map of fires in Canada
posted by djseafood at 9:21 AM on August 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
Damn.
Here is a map of fires in Canada
posted by djseafood at 9:21 AM on August 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
hopefully, some lessons were learned from the Fort McMurray fire of 2016
posted by philip-random at 9:38 AM on August 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 9:38 AM on August 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
Those maps are absolutely horrifying. It looks like the city is surrounded, except for the lake, and evacuation routes all look like they are near areas of fire danger themselves.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:44 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:44 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think the first lesson is allready in play here- get folks out early. Fort Mac wasn't called for evacuation until the fire had entered city limits - this fire is close but not yet in the city.
We'll see if the other issues are better handled - Fort Mac was almost a decade ago now! Logistically this is all bonkers. There just isn't enough fuel up there for everyone to drive out, and all that needs to be hauled up there. There isn't enough provisions on the route to handle even a fraction of the people that will be traveling - can't imagine what it is going to take to keep thousands of people fed and sheltered over the entire route.
posted by zenon at 9:50 AM on August 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
We'll see if the other issues are better handled - Fort Mac was almost a decade ago now! Logistically this is all bonkers. There just isn't enough fuel up there for everyone to drive out, and all that needs to be hauled up there. There isn't enough provisions on the route to handle even a fraction of the people that will be traveling - can't imagine what it is going to take to keep thousands of people fed and sheltered over the entire route.
posted by zenon at 9:50 AM on August 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
This is absolutely terrifying, but given the logistical challenges far better that they evacuate earlier and spread out some of the impact than delay longer.
Everyone should have at least a small go-bag to go along with their supplies for emergency sheltering in place: necessary medications, some cash, an emergency blanket, a headlamp, a little nonperishable food and water. Don't think of it as supplies for surviving out in the bush (unless you're very rural), think of it as what would make evacuating like this and ending up on a cot in a stadium short-term endurable.
posted by praemunire at 10:15 AM on August 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
Everyone should have at least a small go-bag to go along with their supplies for emergency sheltering in place: necessary medications, some cash, an emergency blanket, a headlamp, a little nonperishable food and water. Don't think of it as supplies for surviving out in the bush (unless you're very rural), think of it as what would make evacuating like this and ending up on a cot in a stadium short-term endurable.
posted by praemunire at 10:15 AM on August 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
This is very scary. I hope the evacuation goes smoothly, and the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of arsenic trioxide lurking in the closed Giant Mine site don't get out
posted by scruss at 10:28 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 10:28 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Everyone should have at least a small go-bag
Don't forget a carrier and some food/meds for your pets. Litter supplies for the kitties.
posted by banshee at 10:30 AM on August 17, 2023 [5 favorites]
Don't forget a carrier and some food/meds for your pets. Litter supplies for the kitties.
posted by banshee at 10:30 AM on August 17, 2023 [5 favorites]
My aunt has lived in Yellowknife for about fifty years, and she e-mailed this morning to tell us about the evacuation. It's very scary for her and the community she loves.
posted by dismas at 10:44 AM on August 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by dismas at 10:44 AM on August 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
To avoid some of the communication issues noted from the Hawaiian wildfires, people may find utility in the Alert Ready system in Canada for emergency notifications. Also useful is Get Prepared Canada and their emergency preparedness week campaign.
September is National Preparedness Month in the U.S.
posted by JDC8 at 10:50 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
September is National Preparedness Month in the U.S.
posted by JDC8 at 10:50 AM on August 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
There's a man I follow on LinkedIn who runs a Northern networking company out of Yellowknife, and he's planning to drop Starlink satellite hookups and mini-cell towers along the evacuation route on his way out of town. Because that's what he does -- he builds networks in remote areas where nothing else exists -- and because that's what he can do -- make things better for people by helping them connect to news and information and family as they all run for their lives. I'm not a thoughts and prayers girl, really, but I've been thinking about him a lot today.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:01 AM on August 17, 2023 [41 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 11:01 AM on August 17, 2023 [41 favorites]
It’s not so much 12-14 hours to anywhere that can handle so many evacuees as 12-14 hours to anywhere period. (Exaggeration; but distances are longer in the North.)
posted by eviemath at 11:20 AM on August 17, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by eviemath at 11:20 AM on August 17, 2023 [6 favorites]
There just isn't enough fuel up there for everyone to drive out, and all that needs to be hauled up there.
Here's link to Big River Service centrei Facebook page It's in Fort Providence.
It's the main gas station for travellers heading south.
'" DON'T PANIC - WE HAVE GAS.
We are not rationing gas to travllers (that's a rumour) but we are discouraging people from filling up multiple jerry cans unless it's needed. Next stop is Meander and/or High Level - most vehicles can make it there from here with one fill up.
Travel safe."
" DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC BIG RIVER SERVICE CENTRE WILL BE 24 HOURS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS - WILL UPDATE DAILY"
Internet is working again, so we can accept credit and debit cards along with cash for gas and store purchase.
Here's a photo of the lineup for gas there.
posted by yyz at 11:28 AM on August 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
Here's link to Big River Service centrei Facebook page It's in Fort Providence.
It's the main gas station for travellers heading south.
'" DON'T PANIC - WE HAVE GAS.
We are not rationing gas to travllers (that's a rumour) but we are discouraging people from filling up multiple jerry cans unless it's needed. Next stop is Meander and/or High Level - most vehicles can make it there from here with one fill up.
Travel safe."
" DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC BIG RIVER SERVICE CENTRE WILL BE 24 HOURS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS - WILL UPDATE DAILY"
Internet is working again, so we can accept credit and debit cards along with cash for gas and store purchase.
Here's a photo of the lineup for gas there.
posted by yyz at 11:28 AM on August 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
I was reading on CBC yesterday or the day before that emergency services had fuel available for evacuees along the road south. Part of what a state of emergency declaration does is free up resources like that to help people with their evacuation and post-evacuation needs. Still going to be a huge task to quickly and safely evacuate Yellowknife, though. I’m hoping the folks I know and friends of friends in the region are okay.
posted by eviemath at 11:29 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by eviemath at 11:29 AM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
GenjiandProust: It looks like the city is surrounded, except for the lake, and evacuation routes all look like they are near areas of fire danger themselves.
In the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894, two late summer fires converged and burned whole towns, erasing communities and melting the wheels of trains.
One group of survivors was preserved only because they drove a locomotive out into a swamp, where the fire couldn't pursue. The train caught fire and exploded, but the hundreds clinging to its sides were saved. Others submerged themselves in the water in a gravel pit for the duration.
Forty-odd years ago, when I was very young, I sat through the multi-media presentation in the small Hinckley Fire Museum. The audio of the fire being played from all sounds terrified me, and I still remember huddling on the floor of the theater with my arms tight around my legs. I can't imagine what it's like for the people actually living through it, especially the need to drive hundreds of kilometers to safety, and I wish them all safety and, eventually, peace.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:37 AM on August 17, 2023 [6 favorites]
In the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894, two late summer fires converged and burned whole towns, erasing communities and melting the wheels of trains.
On September 3, 1894, the headline of the Minneapolis Tribune screamed, “A Cyclone of Wind and Fire: Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin Bathed in a Sea of Flame and Hundreds of Human Lives are Sacrificed to the Insatiable Greed of the Red Demon as He Stalks through the Pine Forest on His Mission of Death.” In just four hours on September 1, the red demon destroyed an estimated 480 square miles.--MNopedia
One group of survivors was preserved only because they drove a locomotive out into a swamp, where the fire couldn't pursue. The train caught fire and exploded, but the hundreds clinging to its sides were saved. Others submerged themselves in the water in a gravel pit for the duration.
Forty-odd years ago, when I was very young, I sat through the multi-media presentation in the small Hinckley Fire Museum. The audio of the fire being played from all sounds terrified me, and I still remember huddling on the floor of the theater with my arms tight around my legs. I can't imagine what it's like for the people actually living through it, especially the need to drive hundreds of kilometers to safety, and I wish them all safety and, eventually, peace.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:37 AM on August 17, 2023 [6 favorites]
Let’s keep the focus on Yellowknife in 2023, please.
I’ve been looking at those maps and it looks like almost all of western Canada is on fire….
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:18 PM on August 17, 2023 [15 favorites]
I’ve been looking at those maps and it looks like almost all of western Canada is on fire….
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:18 PM on August 17, 2023 [15 favorites]
I'd like to thank wenestvedt for sharing the experience re: the Hinckley Fire
I'm in N. Alberta and though we haven't had a turn in my lifetime, my town was mostly destroyed in a fire in the past and we have been an evacuation site for the recent Slave Lake and Fort McMurray evacuations. Anything that helps people understand what's happening to our Yellowknife friends is good information, in my view.
posted by elkevelvet at 12:29 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm in N. Alberta and though we haven't had a turn in my lifetime, my town was mostly destroyed in a fire in the past and we have been an evacuation site for the recent Slave Lake and Fort McMurray evacuations. Anything that helps people understand what's happening to our Yellowknife friends is good information, in my view.
posted by elkevelvet at 12:29 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Let’s keep the focus on Yellowknife in 2023, please.
Oh, by all means!
I only posted to say that if recreations of the experience are frightening, then living through it must be an experience that will mark every one of those poor people. They say that every generation has a defining experience, but when it's a huge portion of the population, it can re-define their whole self-image and history.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:10 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh, by all means!
I only posted to say that if recreations of the experience are frightening, then living through it must be an experience that will mark every one of those poor people. They say that every generation has a defining experience, but when it's a huge portion of the population, it can re-define their whole self-image and history.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:10 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Argh. I should have been more specific in my carping. I think there is something instructive to this situation about large rural fires like Hinckley (or Peshtigo, about 20 years earlier, the deadliest known North American wildfire). For one thing, they are hard to escape. In the 19th C, some of that was due to the slowness of travel. In the case of Yellowknife, we are looking at awkward geography and communication and supply problems (along with the scale of the evacuation) to slow people down.
My complaint was aimed at the brewing OPEC derail rather than wenestvedt's comment.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:21 PM on August 17, 2023 [8 favorites]
My complaint was aimed at the brewing OPEC derail rather than wenestvedt's comment.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:21 PM on August 17, 2023 [8 favorites]
Back in 2010, a friend from college visited me where I live in SE Alaska and we put my car on the ferry to Prince Rupert, BC, then headed north along the Cassiar Highway towards Whitehorse, YT.
Things went smoothly for the first few days of the trip but pulling into Dease Lake to refuel and stock some groceries for the next leg of our trip we discovered that there were notices posted about forest fires burning along the BC / Yukon border.
That was when we had to confront the reality of travel in northern Canada - we had only three options:
(As far as my own trip in 2010 went: based on the best information we could get in Dease Lake, we chose option 3, continued north until we encountered a flagger in the road about an hour south of the Yukon border. He was stopping vehicles so that they could be escorted through an active burn zone in convoys. Relieved to find we could still get through, and being the first car to arrive after the departure of the previous convoy, we popped open the trunk, drug out our cooler and some chairs, offered the flagger and the dozen or so cars that showed up while we waited iced soda from the cooler, and eventually, when the convoy escort returned, drove through a landscape that was still burning - but not apocalyptically in that case. Still, there were visible flames along the side of the road, animals fleeing still-active burn zones, and plenty to think about. An unforgettable experience, to be sure. The impromptu mid-highway tailgate party turned out to have been a brilliant stroke because further along in our travels we kept meeting many of the same people further down the road that we had met while waiting for the convoy escort. There's a huge amount of territory up there but there are only a few easy ways through it and not as many places to stop as you might think, so we kept crossing paths again and again. The goodwill and cameraderie established repaid our snack and beverage outlay many times over.)
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:31 PM on August 17, 2023 [26 favorites]
Things went smoothly for the first few days of the trip but pulling into Dease Lake to refuel and stock some groceries for the next leg of our trip we discovered that there were notices posted about forest fires burning along the BC / Yukon border.
That was when we had to confront the reality of travel in northern Canada - we had only three options:
- Backtrack 450 miles to Prince Rupert, abandon our trip, and hope that there was room for a vehicle with no reservation on an upcoming sailing back to Ketchikan
- Drive 650 miles back to Prince George to reach the Alcan Highway, then drive days with minimal stops in order to catch our (already paid) return ferry sailing from Skagway, AK
- Continue north and hope the road was still open when we got there.
(As far as my own trip in 2010 went: based on the best information we could get in Dease Lake, we chose option 3, continued north until we encountered a flagger in the road about an hour south of the Yukon border. He was stopping vehicles so that they could be escorted through an active burn zone in convoys. Relieved to find we could still get through, and being the first car to arrive after the departure of the previous convoy, we popped open the trunk, drug out our cooler and some chairs, offered the flagger and the dozen or so cars that showed up while we waited iced soda from the cooler, and eventually, when the convoy escort returned, drove through a landscape that was still burning - but not apocalyptically in that case. Still, there were visible flames along the side of the road, animals fleeing still-active burn zones, and plenty to think about. An unforgettable experience, to be sure. The impromptu mid-highway tailgate party turned out to have been a brilliant stroke because further along in our travels we kept meeting many of the same people further down the road that we had met while waiting for the convoy escort. There's a huge amount of territory up there but there are only a few easy ways through it and not as many places to stop as you might think, so we kept crossing paths again and again. The goodwill and cameraderie established repaid our snack and beverage outlay many times over.)
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:31 PM on August 17, 2023 [26 favorites]
"Canada's military has been assisting local firefighters and flying people out on Hercules aircraft as part of what officials called the largest airlift in the territory's history. Many highways were also closed as of Wednesday, and photos showed a long line of vehicles on the only highway out of Yellowknife."
posted by clavdivs at 1:41 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 1:41 PM on August 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
My family is in Vancouver now, but I grew up near Prince George. When I was a kid, it was completely normal for us to hook a camper to our truck and head out to travel around BC. We'd go places that were remote and beautiful or populated and fun and then a couple days before my Dad had to go back to work, we'd head back home.
But now, I don't think that kind of travel is even practical anymore. Not if you need to get home on time. The odds of just getting blocked off by fire or flood is just too high. It took us three years to be able to find a window in between winter road conditions and summer fire season to take my father's ashes back home to lay them to rest. There have been times recently when the only way to get to Prince George by road or rail have required thousands of kilometers of detours. Time and again now, I see Facebook posts from my friends who've driven South for some kind of event having to find a place to leave their car and a different way home.
And as far North as Yellowknife is, that situation is even worse because there are fewer roads to start with.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:53 PM on August 17, 2023 [10 favorites]
But now, I don't think that kind of travel is even practical anymore. Not if you need to get home on time. The odds of just getting blocked off by fire or flood is just too high. It took us three years to be able to find a window in between winter road conditions and summer fire season to take my father's ashes back home to lay them to rest. There have been times recently when the only way to get to Prince George by road or rail have required thousands of kilometers of detours. Time and again now, I see Facebook posts from my friends who've driven South for some kind of event having to find a place to leave their car and a different way home.
And as far North as Yellowknife is, that situation is even worse because there are fewer roads to start with.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:53 PM on August 17, 2023 [10 favorites]
Yellowknife is my hometown and I'm hosting two friends, their kids, and an elderly cat right now, with two more friends and their dogs arriving tomorrow. We're in Calgary, i.e. not particularly close to Yellowknife, and we're getting pretty crowded around here. But there has been nowhere near enough shelter space set up for the people fleeing Yellowknife, and my friends don't want to take what precious spots do exist.
I've got a lot of thoughts about this situation but I'm currently washing children's clothing covered in soot and frankly I'm too pissed off and upset to do much more writing. Climate change raises the stakes for governance and this is what happens when you get it wrong.
posted by ZaphodB at 1:54 PM on August 17, 2023 [54 favorites]
I've got a lot of thoughts about this situation but I'm currently washing children's clothing covered in soot and frankly I'm too pissed off and upset to do much more writing. Climate change raises the stakes for governance and this is what happens when you get it wrong.
posted by ZaphodB at 1:54 PM on August 17, 2023 [54 favorites]
I've donated to the Canadian Red Cross appeal, but if anyone knows of other organizations that could use funds, please share them.
Here's hoping everyone gets out of Yellowknife safely. 🤞
posted by invokeuse at 6:20 PM on August 17, 2023
Here's hoping everyone gets out of Yellowknife safely. 🤞
posted by invokeuse at 6:20 PM on August 17, 2023
... so why not Edmonton?
To come back and answer my own question: Edmonton is opening the Expo center as an evacuation center again, starting tomorrow at noon. The Alberta government has a list of evacuation centers, where they are, and other important information for anyone evacuating south (if you want to access government supports, you have to go to the right evacuation center!). They have also opened up free camping at any provincial campground for registered evacuees -- which may be a better option if you have a travel trailer/5th wheel (or can borrow one) than staying in an evacuation center.
The CBC is reporting that the province is also providing road side support and fuel for people evacuating south:
posted by selenized at 6:51 PM on August 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
To come back and answer my own question: Edmonton is opening the Expo center as an evacuation center again, starting tomorrow at noon. The Alberta government has a list of evacuation centers, where they are, and other important information for anyone evacuating south (if you want to access government supports, you have to go to the right evacuation center!). They have also opened up free camping at any provincial campground for registered evacuees -- which may be a better option if you have a travel trailer/5th wheel (or can borrow one) than staying in an evacuation center.
The CBC is reporting that the province is also providing road side support and fuel for people evacuating south:
The province has set up road side supports and roving patrols for those who are driving south including a refueling station at Steen River, water and washrooms. There are also mechanics, tow trucks and tire repair services at the ready.For donations, neither Calgary nor Edmonton want people bringing donations to their evacuation centers. This website has a list of places you can donate including the United Way, Veterinarians Without Borders, and the NWT SPCA.
posted by selenized at 6:51 PM on August 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
My brother-in-law has just arrived back in Western Australia after a month in Canada as part of the Australian firefighting secondment. I presume another crew are on their way north.
Goodspeed and safety to all those looking for refuge.
posted by pipstar at 11:36 PM on August 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
Goodspeed and safety to all those looking for refuge.
posted by pipstar at 11:36 PM on August 17, 2023 [4 favorites]
They're now evacuating parts of Kelowna. West Kelowna, on the other side of Okanagan Lake, was already under an evac order. It's not exactly unusual for Kelowna to be under wildfire threat, but it's clearly happening more and bigger these days.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:09 AM on August 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 6:09 AM on August 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
Yikes. Where are they evacuating to? The evacuations page lists some shelter options a 12-16 hour drive away in Alberta.
I've tried explaining this to Americans who say "Why don't they just put out the fires?". Northern Canada is not quite like rural United States. The scales are wildly different. Those fires in most of northern canada are so remote that there are not even roads within miles of them. In some cases tens or hundreds of miles.
Also a wild part of the Yellowstone evacuation is that with a town of just 20K people they still had a traffic jam getting out of town. Because there is just one road!
posted by srboisvert at 7:18 AM on August 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
I've tried explaining this to Americans who say "Why don't they just put out the fires?". Northern Canada is not quite like rural United States. The scales are wildly different. Those fires in most of northern canada are so remote that there are not even roads within miles of them. In some cases tens or hundreds of miles.
Also a wild part of the Yellowstone evacuation is that with a town of just 20K people they still had a traffic jam getting out of town. Because there is just one road!
posted by srboisvert at 7:18 AM on August 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
They're now evacuating parts of Kelowna. West Kelowna, on the other side of Okanagan Lake, was already under an evac order. It's not exactly unusual for Kelowna to be under wildfire threat, but it's clearly happening more and bigger these days.
And if you look at a map there are really only two ways out of the valley and if there is a fire it usually means one way is the wrong way. Forest fires in BC are evacuation nightmares.
posted by srboisvert at 7:22 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
And if you look at a map there are really only two ways out of the valley and if there is a fire it usually means one way is the wrong way. Forest fires in BC are evacuation nightmares.
posted by srboisvert at 7:22 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
I've tried explaining this to Americans who say "Why don't they just put out the fires?". Northern Canada is not quite like rural United States.
And it’s not like forest fires are easy to put out. Unless you get heavy rain, which is it’s own problem, you need a lot of people, equipment, and other resources even for areas with good access, and when there are 3 or 30 or 300 fires to be concerned about, picking the right ones to address is… hard. Not to mention that, in dry weather, a single campfire, lightning strike, cigarette, power line, etc can start another fire no problem. This would be difficult even if it was a funding priority, which it’s usually not anywhere.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:28 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
And it’s not like forest fires are easy to put out. Unless you get heavy rain, which is it’s own problem, you need a lot of people, equipment, and other resources even for areas with good access, and when there are 3 or 30 or 300 fires to be concerned about, picking the right ones to address is… hard. Not to mention that, in dry weather, a single campfire, lightning strike, cigarette, power line, etc can start another fire no problem. This would be difficult even if it was a funding priority, which it’s usually not anywhere.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:28 AM on August 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Nearly half the population of the entire territory lives in Yellowknife and the next largest community, Hay River, only has a population of ~3500.
Yes, and Hay River and other (relatively) nearby communities have been evacuated already, with some terrifying stories from evacuees.
I visited Yellowknife and Hay River a few years ago and this is so sad and scary to see. I hope that the evacuation and firefighting efforts are going well.
posted by randomnity at 7:38 AM on August 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
Yes, and Hay River and other (relatively) nearby communities have been evacuated already, with some terrifying stories from evacuees.
I visited Yellowknife and Hay River a few years ago and this is so sad and scary to see. I hope that the evacuation and firefighting efforts are going well.
posted by randomnity at 7:38 AM on August 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
've tried explaining this to Americans who say "Why don't they just put out the fires?". Northern Canada is not quite like rural United States. The scales are wildly different. Those fires in most of northern canada are so remote that there are not even roads within miles of them. In some cases tens or hundreds of miles.
If there is anything I've taken away from being a dual citizen for nearly 15 years, it's this: Americans have no idea how freakin' huge Canada is.
I cannot stress enough to family and friends back in the States how dire and unprecedented (for the moment) it is to evacuate an entire city. Especially a city that is as remote as Yellowknife is.
posted by Kitteh at 8:25 AM on August 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
If there is anything I've taken away from being a dual citizen for nearly 15 years, it's this: Americans have no idea how freakin' huge Canada is.
I cannot stress enough to family and friends back in the States how dire and unprecedented (for the moment) it is to evacuate an entire city. Especially a city that is as remote as Yellowknife is.
posted by Kitteh at 8:25 AM on August 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
Americans have no idea how freakin' huge Canada is.
to be fair, neither do most Canadians as the vast majority of us live within a few hours drive of the American border.
a night time view from space
posted by philip-random at 9:50 AM on August 18, 2023 [7 favorites]
to be fair, neither do most Canadians as the vast majority of us live within a few hours drive of the American border.
a night time view from space
posted by philip-random at 9:50 AM on August 18, 2023 [7 favorites]
These situations are terrifying. If you've never lived in a remote community it's hard to understand the isolation and how easily you can be trapped by fire. Few roads - often only one road - out of the community. No gas stations, no lights, no ambulances, often no cell service, for hours upon hours. The roads are like thin tunnels through thousands of hectares of dense forest. If your car breaks down, you run out of gas, a tree falls, or the road's been washed out, you're done.
posted by Stoof at 9:59 AM on August 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by Stoof at 9:59 AM on August 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
10 years ago there was no bridge crossing the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence.
There was only a small car ferry, the MV Merv Hardie
It would have been impossible to evacuate south using the highway.
The backlog would have been insane.
Good thing they built the bridge.
posted by yyz at 2:33 PM on August 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
There was only a small car ferry, the MV Merv Hardie
It would have been impossible to evacuate south using the highway.
The backlog would have been insane.
Good thing they built the bridge.
posted by yyz at 2:33 PM on August 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
Be sure to Google Maps' photos for the bridge.
Apologies for a slight derail but for anyone else tripping over the name "Great Slave Lake" every time they read it, here's a good CBC article about the name's history and discussions of renaming it.
posted by Nelson at 3:16 PM on August 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
Apologies for a slight derail but for anyone else tripping over the name "Great Slave Lake" every time they read it, here's a good CBC article about the name's history and discussions of renaming it.
posted by Nelson at 3:16 PM on August 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
Big chunks of BC's seventh (give or take depending on how you want to count) largest city Kelowna (145K people) plus several satellite communities and First Nations (adding another 80,000 people) are now under evacuation orders or evacuation alert (map) as several wildfires have threatened the city destroying homes, resorts and businesses.
The international airport is closed to commercial traffic to dedicate the airspace and resources to fire fighting.
Low bandwidth news from the CBC.
posted by Mitheral at 6:17 PM on August 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
The international airport is closed to commercial traffic to dedicate the airspace and resources to fire fighting.
Low bandwidth news from the CBC.
posted by Mitheral at 6:17 PM on August 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
As of Saturday nearly 70% of all the NWT has evacuated. The NWT is the Northwest Territories, it's the provincial/state level of government and is approximately twice the size of Texas with a total population 45 000. Yellowknife is the capital and recent estimates indicate less than a thousand residents remain in the city.
The fire has not yet reached city limits, and a fire crew of 300 is currently trying to extend the 25 KM of fire lines/control strips to protect the city, with the west line "substantially complete." A fire line is an attempt to create a physical barrier the fire can't jump - typically a combination of a clear cutting all the trees and brush that is then back burned to eliminate anything that could fuel the fire.
Re-entry to communities is now expected to be "weeks, not days".
posted by zenon at 7:39 PM on August 20, 2023 [10 favorites]
The fire has not yet reached city limits, and a fire crew of 300 is currently trying to extend the 25 KM of fire lines/control strips to protect the city, with the west line "substantially complete." A fire line is an attempt to create a physical barrier the fire can't jump - typically a combination of a clear cutting all the trees and brush that is then back burned to eliminate anything that could fuel the fire.
Re-entry to communities is now expected to be "weeks, not days".
posted by zenon at 7:39 PM on August 20, 2023 [10 favorites]
Evacuating 1200 kilometers sounds extremely challenging. I hope things go as well as they can.
I looked at the map hosted by National Resources Canada and noticed that the “next day” link lets you look into the future. The map actually changes in a seemingly-reasonable fashion. Unless there is some mysterious Canadian time-travel going on, it is puzzling. They should fix that before some conspiracy theorists start in with talk about hoaxes.
I thought the discussion of other wildfires was completely on-topic and I really wish the Junior Napoleons of the Internet would prune their own off-topic comments about off-topic comments.
That crew of 300 firefighters that remained in Yellowknife: I hope they have a robust plan for escape if their efforts fail. It sounds beyond terrifying.
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 8:57 AM on August 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
I looked at the map hosted by National Resources Canada and noticed that the “next day” link lets you look into the future. The map actually changes in a seemingly-reasonable fashion. Unless there is some mysterious Canadian time-travel going on, it is puzzling. They should fix that before some conspiracy theorists start in with talk about hoaxes.
I thought the discussion of other wildfires was completely on-topic and I really wish the Junior Napoleons of the Internet would prune their own off-topic comments about off-topic comments.
That crew of 300 firefighters that remained in Yellowknife: I hope they have a robust plan for escape if their efforts fail. It sounds beyond terrifying.
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 8:57 AM on August 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
I was hoping to hear some updates on this story. But none here, and not many to be found online. I looked at the CBC to see what I could find. There's a mini drama around a politician returning to Yellowknife claiming to be "essential". The city is sending a few of the volunteers away.
I'm most interested in what life is like for the evacuees, the interruption. Where did they all go? How are they coping with the disruption and worry? Any heartwarming stories? Didn't find much. Here's an article about school openings being delayed. And a general human interest story about evacuees in Calgary.
There's more in local media: NNSL, Cabin radio. I haven't reviewed them.
There must be thousands of stories. Fortunately there hasn't been the one tragic story we've been fearing, at least not so far.
posted by Nelson at 10:39 AM on August 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
I'm most interested in what life is like for the evacuees, the interruption. Where did they all go? How are they coping with the disruption and worry? Any heartwarming stories? Didn't find much. Here's an article about school openings being delayed. And a general human interest story about evacuees in Calgary.
There's more in local media: NNSL, Cabin radio. I haven't reviewed them.
There must be thousands of stories. Fortunately there hasn't been the one tragic story we've been fearing, at least not so far.
posted by Nelson at 10:39 AM on August 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
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