Residents of Fort Good Hope, NWT. evacuating as wildfire threatens community

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FORT GOOD HOPE, N.W.T. – Residents of Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., are being told to evacuate due to a wildfire burning less than two-kilometres from the community.

The territorial government issued a Facebook post on Saturday evening saying evacuation flights were en route to Fort Good Hope, which is about 800-kilometres northwest of Yellowknife and home to about 500 residents.

The government says all evacuees are currently being directed to Norman Wells, about 140-kilometres away.

N-W-T Fire says an Incident Management Team is being mobilized to the community immediately and additional air support is en route to fight the blaze.

It says the out of control fire is human-caused and started 3.8-kilometres northeast of the community.

It says the fire has grown to 0.02 square kilometres in size, noting firefighting efforts may be challenged by dry conditions and wind in the area.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2024.