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Behchokǫ̀
Whatì
Gamètì
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Yellowknife
Community
Governance
Updated Evacuation Order
Updated Evacuation Order for Yellowknife, N’dilo, Dettah, and the Ingraham Trail
August 23, 2023
 
WHEREAS the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (the “Minister”) has issued a Declaration of State of Emergency Order on August 15, 2023, declaring a state of emergency for all of the Northwest Territories in accordance with Section 14(1) of the Emergency Management Act, SNWT 2018, c. 17 (the “Act”);
 
AND WHEREAS the Minister issued an Evacuation Order for Yellowknife, N’dilo, Dettah, and the Ingraham Trail on August 16, 2023, requiring the evacuation of Yellowknife, N’dilo, Dettah, and the Ingraham Trail by noon on Friday, August 18, 2023;
 
AND WHEREAS the Minister is of the opinion that the impact of the wildfires burning throughout the Northwest Territories continues to require that non-essential persons evacuate from Yellowknife, N’dilo, Dettah, and the Ingraham Trail in order to protect the safety, health and welfare of people and to limit or prevent damage to property and the environment;
AND WHEREAS the Minister pursuant to Section 17(1)(h) of the Act may cause the evacuation of persons and the removal of personal property and animals from any area within the Northwest Territories that is or may be affected by the emergency;
 
AND WHEREAS the Minister has assessed the emergency risk and now updates the August 16, 2023, Evacuation Order as follows:
The Minister, pursuant to Section 17(1)(h) of the Act hereby directs as follows:
 
  1. All non-essential persons present within the community boundaries of Yellowknife, N’dilo, Dettah, and in locations on the Ingraham Trail must immediately evacuate those areas. It is an offence pursuant to Section 25 of the Act for a person to (a) contravene this Act or any order made under this Act; or to (b) interfere with or obstruct any person in the exercise of any power conferred or the performance of any duty imposed by this Act or any order made under this Act.
 
This Updated Evacuation Order for Yellowknife, N’dilo, Dettah, and the Ingraham Trail is effective as of 7:00 pm on August 23, 2023, and, unless earlier revoked, will remain in place until the state of emergency, including any renewal, is terminated.
 
Information on how to evacuate and resources for evacuees are available by visiting the GNWT’s public safety webpage at: https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/public-safety