As wildfires continue to burn in and around Behchokǫ̀, Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty says the municipality will provide as much support as possible to our neighbours, but also wants to ease fears of potential evacuation talk in the capital.
Alty says the city has several safety advantages regarding wildfires, but remains prepared for the worst to ensure Yellowknifers are effectively taken care of if a disaster situation were to occur.
“The City is in close contact with the North Slave EMO (Emergency Management Operations) so the City and the GNWT keeps a close eye on any potential threat to Yellowknife,” Mayor Alty tells MyTrueNorthNow.
Alty credits numerous factors that would help prevent a wildfire from reaching the capital, and the mayor says location is a key advantage for the city.
“Yellowknife does have the benefit of half of our community is surrounded by water, we have a few natural fire breaks like the sandpits, the airfield at the airport,” Alty says.
Wind direction coming from Great Slave Lake is an additional factor that keeps Yellowknife safe during situations like a wildfire, and Alty says strong winds from the southeast are incredibly important in keeping the wildfire off our doorstep.
“Unfortunately for the community of Behchokǫ̀, the winds are coming from the east which means the fire is being pushed towards their community which is being pushed away from Yellowknife,” Alty says.
The mayor adds that the City remains prepared and is working closely with the GNWT to monitor the flames in the west, and if anything major were to change, the city remains prepared and ready to activate a plan.
