Fort Good Hope, N.W.T. Wildfire Evacuees Describe Chaotic Saturday Evacuation
As residents of Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., prepared to evacuate on Saturday due to a wildfire, many were in a panic, said community councillor Lucy Jackson.
Saturday morning began as a regular day for the community of just over 500 people, until a rapidly growing wildfire broke out, triggering an evacuation.
By Monday morning, the wildfire had reached the community but hadn’t burned any structures, according to N.W.T. Fire.
“It’s sort of a new experience for all of us in Fort Good Hope. Of course, we’ve had fires in the past, but we never had to go through this,” Jackson said.
The order to evacuate Fort Good Hope, located on the Mackenzie River in the Sahtu Region, came without warning. Hundreds of residents were flown to Norman Wells, while others went to Délı̨nę or a fish camp near Fort Good Hope.