Wildfires

Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane listens during a news conference after a meeting of Western Premiers in Whistler, B.C. on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Cochrane was a social worker before entering politics, so when the territory’s capital ordered everyone to leave last week due to encroaching wildfires, she said she checked to make sure homeless people weren’t forgotten. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Premier recounts hunt for homeless during Yellowknife evacuation

Caroline Cochrane was a social worker before politics

Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane listens during a news conference after a meeting of Western Premiers in Whistler, B.C. on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Cochrane was a social worker before entering politics, so when the territory’s capital ordered everyone to leave last week due to encroaching wildfires, she said she checked to make sure homeless people weren’t forgotten. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Properties destroyed in the West Maui Wildfire are seen near Front Street in Lahaina on the island of Maui, Hawaii Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Emergency services chief on Maui resigns

Herman Andaya faced criticism for not activating sirens during fire, said he had no regrets

Properties destroyed in the West Maui Wildfire are seen near Front Street in Lahaina on the island of Maui, Hawaii Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Evacuees from Yellowknife, territorial capital of the Northwest Territories, are greeted with the Aurora Borealis as they arrive to a free campsite provided by the community in High Level, Alta., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

‘Ghost town’: thousands continue to flee Yellowknife as wildfires loom

’There is no looting, your homes are safe, you’ve gotta lock up and head out of town’

Evacuees from Yellowknife, territorial capital of the Northwest Territories, are greeted with the Aurora Borealis as they arrive to a free campsite provided by the community in High Level, Alta., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
Kelowna International Airport sign. (Black Press file photo)

NO FLIGHTS: Okanagan wildfires shut down Kelowna airport

‘Priority is safety of our community and access to the airspace required by aerial firefighters’

Kelowna International Airport sign. (Black Press file photo)
Vehicles line-up for fuel at Fort Providence, N.W.T., on the only road south from Yellowknife, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Remaining Yellowknifers urged to get out as sprinklers, fire guards set up

Another 22 evacuation flights are scheduled today, fire is about 15 kilometres from the city

Vehicles line-up for fuel at Fort Providence, N.W.T., on the only road south from Yellowknife, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The fire on Mount Con Reid, first reported on Aug. 6, has grown to 90 hectares. Photo from B.C. Wildfire Service.

Cluster of wildfires continue to burn in Strathcona Provincial Park

Cluster of Wolf River fires “being held” but two larger ones remain out of control

  • Aug 17, 2023
The fire on Mount Con Reid, first reported on Aug. 6, has grown to 90 hectares. Photo from B.C. Wildfire Service.
People without vehicles line up to register for a flight to Calgary in Yellowknife on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

Convoys, airport lineups: Yellowknife residents leave city as fire creeps closer

Convoys organized amid concerns flames could push toward Highway 3, the main evacuation route

People without vehicles line up to register for a flight to Calgary in Yellowknife on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
Heavy smoke from nearby wildfires fills the sky in Yellowknife on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. Residents of the capital of the Northwest Territories and two neighbouring First Nation communities have been ordered to evacuate by Friday because of an encroaching wildfire. B.C. is preparing to accept hospital and care home wildfire evacuees from the N.W.T. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski

N.W.T. sending 55 hospital patients, care home residents to B.C.

They are set to arrive through Vancouver International Airport

Heavy smoke from nearby wildfires fills the sky in Yellowknife on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. Residents of the capital of the Northwest Territories and two neighbouring First Nation communities have been ordered to evacuate by Friday because of an encroaching wildfire. B.C. is preparing to accept hospital and care home wildfire evacuees from the N.W.T. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski
Heavy smoke from nearby wildfires fills the sky in Yellowknife on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. Residents of the capital of the Northwest Territories and two neighbouring First Nation communities have been ordered to evacuate by Friday because of an encroaching wildfire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski

Trudeau calls urgent ministers’ meeting as fire forces Yellowknife evacuation

Officials in Northwest Territories say the evacuation has so far been safe and orderly

Heavy smoke from nearby wildfires fills the sky in Yellowknife on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. Residents of the capital of the Northwest Territories and two neighbouring First Nation communities have been ordered to evacuate by Friday because of an encroaching wildfire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski
Homes consumed in recent wildfires are seen in Lahaina, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The wildfires have devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Hawaii is vowing to protect landowners pressured to sell after wildfires

Governor said he would announce details of Maui land transfer moratorium by Friday

Homes consumed in recent wildfires are seen in Lahaina, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The wildfires have devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Yukon territorial flag flies in Ottawa on Monday, July 6, 2020. An evacuation order for Yukon’s northernmost community of Old Crow has been rescinded. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Wildfire evacuation order ends for north Yukon fly-in community of Old Crow

Government lists nearly 150 active wildfires burning within the territory

The Yukon territorial flag flies in Ottawa on Monday, July 6, 2020. An evacuation order for Yukon’s northernmost community of Old Crow has been rescinded. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Heavy smoke from nearby wildfires fills the sky as sandhill cranes feed with houseboats in the distance in Yellowknife on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski

Wildfires still menacing large areas of N.W.T., creep close to Yellowknife

Wildfires menacing the capital of the Northwest Territories crept closer Wednesday, moving…

Heavy smoke from nearby wildfires fills the sky as sandhill cranes feed with houseboats in the distance in Yellowknife on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski
The Lower East Adams Lake wildfire in B.C.’s Shuswap region is shown in a handout photo. Wildfire crews in British Columbia are bracing for an incoming weather system expected to bring strong winds and dry lightning by Thursday, but conditions are already flaring in at least two areas of the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service

Winds, heat and lightning trigger concern as 2 B.C. wildfires surge

Okanagan-Similkameen, Squamish-Lillooet issue evacuation orders

The Lower East Adams Lake wildfire in B.C.’s Shuswap region is shown in a handout photo. Wildfire crews in British Columbia are bracing for an incoming weather system expected to bring strong winds and dry lightning by Thursday, but conditions are already flaring in at least two areas of the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service
Heavy smoke from nearby wildfires fills the sky in Yellowknife on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski

Firefighters hoping for rain for ‘reprieve’ in battling N.W.T. wildfires

236 wildfires tearing through the northern boreal forest have sent northern residents scrambling

Heavy smoke from nearby wildfires fills the sky in Yellowknife on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Angela Gzowski
A burnt tree stands in front of a home destroyed by a wildfire on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Kula, Hawaii. Kula was ravaged by a wildfire the same day one ripped through Lahaina. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Survivors of Maui fires face power cuts and poor cell service

Teams continuing work to find and ID the dead

A burnt tree stands in front of a home destroyed by a wildfire on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Kula, Hawaii. Kula was ravaged by a wildfire the same day one ripped through Lahaina. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Wildfire smoke fills the air at Boundary Creek, Northwest Territories about 25 kilometers east of Yellowknife, on Tuesday Aug. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

‘Raining ashes’: N.W.T. evacuees recall long drives, flight from wildfires

‘Being evacuated two times in 24 hours is nothing like I have ever experienced’

Wildfire smoke fills the air at Boundary Creek, Northwest Territories about 25 kilometers east of Yellowknife, on Tuesday Aug. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
<div>Transportation authorities in the Northwest Territories say the highway out of a community near the Alberta boundary that’s being evacuated due to wildfires has now closed. The Northwest Territories provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa on June 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld</div>

City of Yellowknife declares state of local emergency due to wildfires

‘The highways are compromised, it’s a very serious situation’

<div>Transportation authorities in the Northwest Territories say the highway out of a community near the Alberta boundary that’s being evacuated due to wildfires has now closed. The Northwest Territories provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa on June 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld</div>
Charred vehicles sit near a wildfire-destroyed home Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Kula, Hawaii. The same day a wildfire ripped through Lahaina, one tore through Kula, as well. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Hawaii works to identify 99 dead after Maui wildfires as search intensifies

First names expected today as teams continue to scour burnt-out Lahaina

Charred vehicles sit near a wildfire-destroyed home Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Kula, Hawaii. The same day a wildfire ripped through Lahaina, one tore through Kula, as well. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
A group of volunteers who sailed from Maalaea Bay, Maui, form an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach on Saturday Aug. 12, 2023, to unload donations from a boat. Maui residents have come together to donate water, food and other essential supplies to people on the western side of the island after a deadly fire destroyed hundreds of homes and left scores of people homeless. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Maui wildfires: Governor warns scores more people could be found dead

Search and rescue crews scouring Lahaina neighborhoods street by street as death toll reaches 96

A group of volunteers who sailed from Maalaea Bay, Maui, form an assembly line on Kaanapali Beach on Saturday Aug. 12, 2023, to unload donations from a boat. Maui residents have come together to donate water, food and other essential supplies to people on the western side of the island after a deadly fire destroyed hundreds of homes and left scores of people homeless. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Wildfire wreckage is seen Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Canadians returning from Maui have told of harrowing scenes before their escape from the fire-devastated Hawaiian island. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Rick Bowmer

Canadian evacuees tell of chaotic scenes in Maui wildfire ‘war zone’

Among the evacuees was B.C. Supreme Court Justice Matthew Taylor who drove through the ruined town of Lahaina

Wildfire wreckage is seen Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Canadians returning from Maui have told of harrowing scenes before their escape from the fire-devastated Hawaiian island. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Rick Bowmer