Canada wildfire: all 20,000 Yellowknife residents evacuating.
Canadian fire crews are battling to prevent wildfires from reaching the northern city of Yellowknife, where all 20,000 residents are leaving by car and plane after an evacuation order was declared.
For Friday, August 18, Air Canada adds an extra B737 flight in addition to the usual two flights and continues evaluating opportunities for adjustments.
At this time, there will be no flights to or from Yellowknife on Saturday, August 19 due to the government evacuation order.
Water bombers flew low over Yellowknife as thick smoke blanketed the capital of the vast and sparsely populated Northwest Territories. Officials say the fire, which is moving slowly, is now 15 km (10 miles) northwest of the city and could reach the outskirts by Saturday if there is no rain.
This is Canada’s worst-ever wildfire season with more than 1,000 active fires burning across the country, including 265 in the Northwest Territories.