On Friday, thousands of individuals who had been forced to flee the wildfires in the Northwest Territories were scheduled to arrive in Calgary, marking a significant relief for these evacuees. Among those seeking refuge at Calgary International Airport, Beatrice Bernhardt expressed her gratitude for finally feeling safe amidst the crisis, saying, “It’s just a relief to feel safe. You kind of felt like you didn’t know what to do and who to turn to.”
The evacuation effort involved nearly two dozen flights departing from Yellowknife by noon on that very Friday. According to officials, there were points in the day when planes were taking off every half hour, demonstrating the urgency and scale of the evacuation operation.
Calgary had prepared to accommodate up to 5,000 evacuees, offering them essential support in terms of lodging, transportation, and meal vouchers. This comprehensive assistance aimed to ease the burden of those affected by the wildfires.
Lois Lafferty, another resident from Yellowknife who had arrived in Calgary, shared her emotional experience, saying, “The past week has been so overwhelming to see everything from my childhood from where I was born and stuff – everything burning to ash.” Her words underscore the deep impact the wildfires have had on the lives and memories of those affected.
To aid in the evacuation efforts, military aircraft have been dispatched to Yellowknife, ensuring a continuous stream of incoming flights to Calgary throughout the day. Additional flights for Saturday are on standby should the need arise.