Data provided by the N.W.T. government reveals a significant increase in evacuation orders over the past six years compared to the previous three decades combined. The N.W.T. Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) shared information in response to a request from CBC News regarding evacuation occurrences since the 1990s.
Between 1990 and 2019, there were around 32 evacuation orders, a number that matches the count between 2020 and 2026. These evacuations were primarily triggered by wildfires, along with instances of floods and isolated emergencies like the 2019 apartment fire in Hay River.
The evacuation orders weren’t solely limited to specific communities but also included homes along highway sections. Partial evacuations, where neighborhoods had to relocate within the same town, were also part of the data.
Wildland fire expert Mike Flannigan, based at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C., expressed surprise at the substantial rise in evacuations. He raised concerns about the data possibly not encompassing all historical wildfire evacuations due to inadequate tracking in the past.
CBC News sought wildfire evacuation data from the federal government, but this information only dates back to 1980 and lacks decade-specific breakdowns. Nonetheless, Flannigan emphasized the clear trend evident in the N.W.T. government’s data.
Flannigan highlighted that the surge in evacuations is primarily attributed to wildfires, emphasizing that the territory is witnessing more fires due to human-induced climate change. He pointed out that the extended warm season increases lightning occurrences, a common fire-starter in the Northwest Territories.
Moreover, Flannigan noted the changing behavior of fires in recent times, citing instances of exceptionally rapid fire spread. This shift in fire behavior necessitates earlier evacuation calls as a precautionary measure.
The data highlighted recurrent evacuations in several communities, with Hay River and Kátł’odeeche First Nation being evacuated 12 times collectively since 1990.
Emergency management practices have evolved in response to the heightened evacuation frequency. The N.W.T. government detailed recovery costs amounting to $363.8 million resulting from floods and fires since 2021. Kevin Brezinski, the former N.W.T. director of public safety, noted the increasing frequency and intensity of fires, describing current situations as more chaotic than in the past.
Brezinski’s tenure involved managing various responsibilities beyond emergency measures, but the current focus is on prioritizing emergency management. The changes in emergency management practices align with the escalating challenges posed by frequent evacuations and natural disasters in the region.
Evacuations, though less frequent in the past, are not uncommon during severe fire seasons in the N.W.T. The 1995 fire near Tulita marked one of the earliest significant evacuation incidents, with the community still observing “fire day” activities in remembrance.
Residents like Shelley Melto from Norman Wells recount past evacuation experiences, expressing empathy for those currently facing evacuations in communities like Simpson and Wrigley. Memories of past evacuations resurface during each new evacuation order, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by residents in the region.
The data underscores a paradigm shift in evacuation occurrences, emphasizing the evolving landscape of emergency management in response to the escalating risks and impacts of wildfires and other disasters in the Northwest Territories.