Thousands of people fleeing by air and land out of Yellowknife

With the capital of Yellowknife under evacuation as wildfires burning in the Northwest Territories grow closer, those still in the area are helping to get others to safety.

“People are not going to Yellowknife, they’re going to Sir John High School, and then there’s gonna be buses that take them to the from the school to the airport because the airport is pretty small in Yellowknife, so they don’t want everyone to just gather there, it’s going to make a mess,” explained Vincent Meslage, who is in Yellowknife.

As flights begin evacuating people out of Yellowknife, Meslage was helping people get in line for the airport.

Flying and one highway — the only ways to leave the area. Evacuees flying out will land in Calgary.

“Me and my friend Lori, we took two people to the school and I started recording because the line, there was just, so many people waiting in line outside. Just to be evacuated.”

Images on social media showing large line ups of people waiting to leave the territorial capital — Meslage says the city is closing up.

“All stores are closed. I think there’s one gas station still open, restaurants are closed. Food stores are closed,” he explained.