Moe says Saskatchewan ready to help with NWT wildfires

As wildfires continue to devastate the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan’s premier says the provincial government is ready to offer whatever assistance it can.

On Wednesday evening, residents of Yellowknife and two nearby First Nations were ordered to leave their communities by Friday because of an encroaching wildfire.

Air evacuations for higher-risk residents are expected to begin Thursday afternoon, while the bulk of the population will be departing by the single highway that connects to the capital city.

In a social media post, Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane said the territory is already receiving offers of support from Ottawa and other provincial and territorial governments.

“We’re all tired of the word unprecedented, yet there is no other way to describe this situation in the Northwest Territories. The country is watching, and our neighbours are keeping us in their thoughts and prayers,” Cochrane wrote.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he’s been in contact with Cochrane “to offer whatever assistance we can provide to the Northwest Territories in their evacuation of Yellowknife and other communities.”

In a post shared on social media, Moe said Saskatchewan is prepared to offer temporary accommodation to evacuees if required, along with “support on the ground fighting the fires” in the territory.

Meanwhile, large volumes of smoke from the Northwest Territories has been drifting south into Saskatchewan this week, lowering the air quality in Saskatoon and other communities.

I have been in touch with Premier Cochrane to offer whatever assistance we can provide to the Northwest Territories in their evacuation of Yellowknife and other communities.  

We are prepared to provide temporary accommodation for evacuees if required, along with support on the…

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) August 17, 2023

–With files from The Canadian Press