Yellowknife Wildfire Forces Massive Displacements as Fire Also Threatens Kelowna, British Columbia: Assess the Impact
Approximately 22,000 people in Yellowknife, Canada, have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the worst wildfire season on record.
In another incident to the west, a fast-moving fire threatens Kelowna, British Columbia, and has expanded by a factor of a hundred over the course of 24 hours. The McDougall Creek Wildfire is of particular concern due to its rapid increase in power and speed and poses a significant risk to both lives and properties.
The fire, was covering an area of 1,100 hectares early on Thursday evening, but had spread to an estimated 6,800 hectares by Friday morning. The blaze is approaching a population of approximately 150,000 residents.
Authorities have already noted structural damage, some of which is in the Trader’s Cove area of central Okanagan and on Bear Creek Road in West Kelowna. Residents of over 2,500 properties have been evacuated, while thousands are on standby for possible rapid evacuation.
Actionable Insights on EigenPrism:
To make timely decisions about this event, EigenPrism® users can assess the impact using the following quick links:
- Canada 7-day Active Fire Areas as of 2023-08-19
August 17, 2023 | Yellowknife Wildfire Prompts Urgent Evacuation as Huge Blaze Threatens Towns: Assess the Impact
Yellowknife, Canada, is facing an imminent threat from a huge wildfire, leading to urgent evacuation orders. The advancing wildfire, spanning 402,000 acres, has already been causing concerns because of falling ash and visible smoke in Yellowknife. Meanwhile, 90% of the town of Enterprise has been destroyed by the blaze.
Buses and planes are being used in the evacuation of Hay River, a town of 3,000 people located close to Great Slave Lake. This evacuation was planned for Wednesday night because of the proximity of the fire.
In Yellowknife, the capital city and the sole urban area in the Northwest Territories, residents have been strongly advised to depart as soon as possible. The evacuation plan will be executed in stages, prioritizing those residing along the Ingraham Trail, in Dettah, Kam Lake, Grace Lake, and the Engle Business District, as they are at the highest risk.
Elsewhere, the Lahaina, Maui wildfire still burns acres of land and has become the deadliest US Wildfire since 1918.
Actionable Insights on EigenPrism:
To make timely decisions about this event, EigenPrism® users can assess the impact using the following quick links:
- Canada 7-day Active Fire Areas as of 2023-08-16
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