Yellowknife residents describe scorched scenes and community support as they flee their city due to the threat of wildfires.
Yellowknife lawyer and former forest firefighter Garth Wallbridge has a straightforward message for anyone who's still in the city and doesn't need to be.
In the 1970s, Wallbridge spent two years fighting wildfires in Manitoba and knows firsthand how dangerous they can be. He says he's seen posts on Facebook from a few Yellowknife residents who are convinced they can stay behind and survive past Friday's noon deadline to evacuate. "Hopefully it's much ado about nothing and the firefighting infrastructure work that's being done right now, hopefully it holds up and we'll be able to go back sooner rather than later," McLeod told CTVNews.ca. "So being here, if that does happen, then we can get home sooner."
From a free spot in the campground to deliveries of sandwiches and chilli from locals, McLeod said he's been overwhelmed with the displays of support from communities along the evacuation route."No one knows when we're going to be able to go back," McLeod, who departed Thursday afternoon, said. "Hopefully there's a big downpour of rain over the next week and everyone could start coming back.
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