About 1,300 residents of Fort Simpson in Canada's Northwest Territories have been ordered to leave as a growing wildfire burns close to the community, forcing one of the larger evacuations of the territory's fire season so far. The blaze was reported to be burning just west of the village, which sits on the Mackenzie River, and an order to clear out was issued after officials first told people to shelter in place earlier in the evening.
For many of those forced out, leaving meant a long and anxious journey. Evacuees faced a drive of around seven hours to reach Yellowknife, where many were being sent, joining a growing number of people displaced by the fire. Some loaded up their vehicles and set off in convoys, while others left by air as evacuation flights were arranged out of the region.
Fort Simpson was not the only community affected. Officials said another community further down the Mackenzie was also ordered to evacuate, with those residents told they would be flown out to Fort Smith. The dual evacuations underscored how quickly the situation was escalating across a sparsely populated region where communities are far apart and options for leaving are limited.
Fire crews described a difficult and complex fight. Wildfires were also burning near two key highways, and officials pointed to the terrain and the limited access in the area as major challenges in trying to manage the flames. With few roads in and out, keeping evacuation routes open became a central concern as the fire grew.
Residents spoke of the stress of watching the threat close in. One evacuee who left with a family of six described the smoke growing thicker and the skies darkening before they decided to go, a scene repeated for many families who packed what they could and waited anxiously for news about their homes.
As the evacuees settled in for an uncertain wait, officials warned that winds could push the fire directly toward the community, keeping the danger high. For now, the focus remained on getting people safely out and to host centres, while crews worked to hold the line and residents hoped the wind would shift and the fire would ease before it reached the town.