The wildfires have engulfed the Canadian Northwest, and according to rescuers' predictions, the disaster could approach the regional capital, Yellowknife, as early as this weekend, Euronews reports.
Evacuation orders have been issued for all 20,000 residents of the town.
A single road leads out of the city, and a massive traffic jam of those seeking to leave the city has formed. Many citizens are attempting to escape the disaster zone by planes, with priority given to disabled individuals, the elderly, and families with young children as per authorities' orders.
Mike Westwick, the head of the fire department's information service, stated,
"We are approaching a crucial phase in fighting this forest fire in Yellowknife. In the next two days, we expect northwesterly and west-northwesterly winds, which will push both fires in an unfavorable direction for us."
City officials in Yellowknife warn that besides the fire threat, the region is expected to experience "heavy smoke" in the coming days.
Since January, the country has set a new record for the number of forest fires, with smoke blanketing some areas of the USA. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, over 5,700 fires have consumed more than 137,000 square kilometers across Canada.
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