Data provided by the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) government reveals a significant increase in evacuation orders over the past six years compared to the previous three decades. The N.W.T. Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) shared information in response to a request by CBC News regarding community evacuations since the 1990s.
Between 1990 and 2019, there were about 32 evacuation orders, a number mirrored between 2020 and 2026. These evacuations were predominantly triggered by wildfires, though factors like floods and sporadic emergencies, such as the 2019 Hay River high-rise apartment fire, also played a role.
The evacuation orders encompassed various scenarios, including evacuations along highway sections and partial evacuations where neighborhoods relocated within the same town. Notably, some communities have been evacuated multiple times, with Hay River and Kátł’odeeche First Nation topping the list with a combined total of 12 evacuations since 1990.
Mike Flannigan, a wildland fire professor at Thompson Rivers University, expressed surprise at the surge in evacuations, questioning whether the historical wildfire evacuations were accurately documented. Despite limitations in federal data on wildfire evacuations, the trend highlighted in the N.W.T. government’s data is evident.
The spike in evacuations is primarily attributed to wildfires, with Flannigan attributing the increase to heightened fire occurrences due to climate change. Longer warm seasons create more lightning opportunities, a common fire ignition source in the Northwest Territories. Furthermore, changes in fire behavior have led to more intense fires, prompting earlier evacuations as a precautionary measure.
Emergency management in the N.W.T. has evolved in response to the escalating evacuation demands. Kevin Brezinski, former N.W.T. director of public safety, noted the shift towards prioritizing emergency measures in light of the frequent and severe fires impacting the region. Recovery costs from floods and fires since 2021 amounted to $363.8 million, underscoring the financial toll of these emergencies in the territory.
While evacuations have become more frequent, the N.W.T. has a history of grappling with challenging fire seasons. Commemorative events like “fire day” in Tulita serve as reminders of past fire incidents, emphasizing the enduring impact of evacuations on residents like Shelley Melto, who vividly recalls evacuations dating back to 1995.