Wildfire Information / Evacuation

Note: The page below refers to the evacuation of the City of Yellowknife caused by wildfires in the North Slave region in August 2023. As such, it contains information that is no longer current. The information below, as well as the "Road to Re-entry" webpage concerning what to expect upon return to the City, remain accessible to residents for reference only.

On September 20, 2023 the GNWT issued a Public Safety Bulletin that lifted the Evacuation Alert for Yellowknife, Dettah and N’Dilo. This means that the City of Yellowknife is no longer under an evacuation notice, alert or order.

In addition to the Evacuation Alert being lifted, as of September 25, 2023 the City-wide fire ban on open-air fires (initially put in place on July 12, 2023) has also been lifted. A reminder to residents that burning is permitted in approved fire pits only.

GNWT Five-Phase approach

Phase 1: Community is safe from fire
- We will continue to rely on the Department of Environment and Climate Change wildfire experts to tell us when the fires will be declared “under control” and it is safe to return.
- This can look very different from one community to another.
- Once a community government analyzes the risk to the community in terms of access, travel, and air quality, they will advise when it is safe to go in and check for damage.
Phase 2: Check for damage and identify critical services
- For areas that experienced fire impacts, damage assessments will be necessary and we will work with community governments to identify what critical services are needed to support the return of residents.
- For communities that did not have any fire damage, this phase might move quickly, or may not be necessary.
Phase 3: Essential personnel for critical services return
- Community governments and GNWT departments will allow the return of essential personnel to establish critical services before evacuees are brought back.
- These essential services include: municipal services like water and sewer as well as hospitals, health clinics, pharmacies, hotels, gas stations, grocery stores and essential businesses such as early childcare providers.
Phase 4: Re-establish basic services
- Each community government will re-establish municipal services, while the GNWT will establish territorial services required to ensure safety prior to welcoming evacuees back.
Phase 5: Return home
- Once critical services are re-established evacuees will travel home by air or by road.
- Many of our evacuees are spread across different cities, which will require careful planning.
- We need to prepare to have enough fuel on hand for the number of travelers, and ensure the roads are safe and passable, considering we may still have wildfire activity in other communities.

For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/public-safety/re-entry-after-evacuation.

The City is hard at work to make sure we will be ready for you when you arrive.

While we are not ready to return yet, we are already working to identify the critical businesses and services we will need in place before the broader population comes home.

We have started reaching out directly to these critical businesses and organizations to identify who and what they will need to reopen at a basic level during Phase 3. If you are deemed an essential worker of a critical business or organization, your employer will contact you.

Residents and evacuees can call 811 in the territory and 1-844-259-1793 out of territory to ask questions about the evacuation.

Stay up to date with the latest information by visiting the GNWT’s public safety page at: https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/public-safety.

For updates, please follow the City of Yellowknife on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the Government of the Northwest Territories: NWT Fire Facebook, NWT Fire Twitter, GNWT Facebook, GNWT Twitter.

Preparing for Evacuations

Emergency Evacuation Framework – Overview: https://www.yellowknife.ca/City_of_Yellowknife_Emergency_Evacuation_Framework_.pdf
Wildfire Safety – General Information: https://www.yellowknife.ca/en/living-here/wildfire-information.aspx
Emergency Plan and Preparedness – General Information: https://www.yellowknife.ca/en/living-here/emergency-plan-and-preparedness.aspx
General Information on Emergency Planning: https://www.maca.gov.nt.ca/en/BeReadyNWT

Information on Preparing for Wildfires from the Government of Canada: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/hzd/wldfrs-prp-en.aspx
Check the status of the NWT’s highways here: https://www.inf.gov.nt.ca/en/services/highway-system/highway-conditions-map.

IMPORTANT: Register as an Evacuee

It is very important you register as a NWT Evacuee on the Government of the Northwest Territories’ website here: https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/form/evac.
Register as an evacuee with the Canadian Red Cross here: https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/2023-northwest-territories-fires.

How to Evacuate

You can evacuate by land or air. Learn more https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/transportation-and-evacuating-safely-1. Air evacuation is in process. Go to Sir John Franklin School to register and get on flights. If you need a ride, call 867-444-0115.

We are working to stabilize the fire issue as quickly as we can but at this time, we cannot predict how long the evacuation period will last.

To be on the safe side, take the following actions prior to evacuating:

Pack enough clothes, prescription medication, personal identification and other essential items to last a few days, including requirements for pets.
Turn off all non-essential electrical appliances (ie. computer, microwave, tv) and then shut off the main breaker panel.
Move portable propane cylinders away from any house or structure to an area where fire impact will be minimal.
Ensure sprinkler systems are OFF. Sprinklers left on could strain the City’s water supply and negatively impact the water pressure to fight the wildfires.
When departing, please lock your home.
If you are not able to turn off your power and gas prior to leaving your home, please leave a note on your front door to advise crews.

For information on the status of NWT highways, visit the Government of the Northwest Territories’ website here: https://www.inf.gov.nt.ca/en/services/highway-system/highway-conditions-map.

Deh Cho Boulevard is closed, and access will not be granted until it is safe to re-enter. Please avoid this area and allow our first responders room to safely do their job.

Evacuation Reception Centres

Government of the Northwest Territories information
- https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/evacuee-reception-centres
Government of Alberta’s list of provincial evacuee reception centres
- https://www.alberta.ca/northwest-territories-wildfire-evacuation
City of Calgary reception centre information: https://www.calgary.ca/emergencies/wildfire-evacuees.html
- Please note this centre is now full and will not be accepting NWT evacuees at this time.
City of Edmonton reception centre information:
- https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/emergency_preparedness/alberta-wildfires
City of Winnipeg
City of Whitehorse
- https://yukon.ca/en/news/government-yukon-supporting-northwest-territories

Emergency Services and Support

Government of the Northwest Territories Update page: https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/latest-updates
To report a wildfire, call: 1-877-NWT-FIRE (698-3473).

Safety Alerts and Evacuation Updates: https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/public-safety
Updates on Wildfires: https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/wildfire-update
Live Map of Wildfires: https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/wildland-fire-update/nwt-live-fire-map

Volunteering

While an Evacuation Order is in place, entry into the City is restricted to essential workers only. If additional skilled workers are required, they will be contacted directly and provided with the appropriate documentation to facilitate entry into the community. The City appreciates the willingness of residents that want to help the community, however at this point the best thing residents can do is remain evacuated outside of Yellowknife.

City Utility Bill and Tax Payments

The City of Yellowknife will be all waiving late fees and penalties for utility bill payments until further notice. For more information on the City’s online access and services, please check out the City’s Virtual Town Hall.

In addition to waiving late penalties for residents’ utility bills, the City of Yellowknife will also be waiving late penalties for the upcoming property tax installment and final tax levy (for those who did not sign up for a pre-authorized payment plan), due on August 31st. Pre-authorized monthly payments for property taxes will continue.

Northland Utilities

Any questions regarding gas and utilities should go directly to Northlands Utilities https://www.northlandutilities.com/en-ca/contact-us.html.

Pet Retrieval

The City of Yellowknife and the NWT SPCA are working together to ensure the safety of pets in our community.

In the urgency of evacuating, some pets were left behind in homes. Currently, the SPCA is providing water and food to pets in homes that have been identified through contact with the SPCA.

Those who may have had to leave their pets behind can fill out the Pet Retrieval Form on the City’s Website to request that their pet be checked on. This form must have the consent of the homeowner or tenant. If you are neither of these but are completing a form, ensure to contact those individuals to get consent.

Teams including Municipal Enforcement Division members, a locksmith, and animal care specialists, will go into homes to ensure the safety of pets. A plan will be made by staff about how to continue care for the animal, based on information in the form provided by the owner.