Residents of Fort Providence have been told to leave the community as a wildfire moves dangerously closer.
The evacuation order was issued at 9 a.m. on Sunday after the nearby fire, pushed by strong northerly winds, spread significantly overnight. It is now burning within two kilometres of Fort Providence, a community of close to 700 residents.
Southerly winds are forecast for Sunday until the evening, when it's expected to shift back to northerly, which could threaten the community, according to NWT Fire.
"Structure protection specialists in the community have set up sprinklers and water cannons on all structures along the northern perimeter of the community to mitigate potential losses," NWT Fire stated in a Sunday morning news release.
The GNWT announced on social media that evacuees were to head to Hay River, where a reception centre was being set up at the town's community centre. Evacuees were being asked to register with the community government in Fort Providence before heading out on the highway.
On social media, the Town of Hay River stated that employees from both the town and the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority would be on hand at the reception centre. Food, basic accommodations, recreation services and fire information would be available at the centre as well.
The town also said it wasn't looking for food donations as of Sunday morning, but it would put out the call if the need arose.
The Hay River Thrift Store also indicated that volunteers would be working between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday if evacuees were in need of clothing or any other necessities.
To the west, Jean Marie River, where around 65 people live, was placed on evacuation notice on Saturday, also due to a wildfire. Residents there are asked to be prepared to vacate, if circumstances necessitate.
On Friday, 600 residents of Whati were ordered to evacuate, with many of them taking refuge in Yellowknife.
