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.
George Grandjambe of Fort Good Hope shared that the stress of the evacuation didn’t end upon arriving in Norman Wells.
He explained that residents learned they might be away from home for an entire week, causing financial strain for many.
Grandjambe mentioned that they have been in contact with elected officials, who have assured them that evacuees will receive some financial support.
There is also concern about what they had to leave behind.
“We all got caught off guard and, and some of us are starting to feel the financial stress because we don’t have money to sustain ourselves here in Norman Wells.”
