Long Lines for Evacuation Flights: Yellowknife Sees Surge in Demand

Hundreds of people are lining up at Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, waiting for an airlift out of the wildfire-threatened city. Air Canada has added two extra flights out of Yellowknife and has put a cap on fares for non-stop flights out of the city. Pets will be allowed on commercial carriers, but must be crated.

A significant number of individuals are currently waiting in a long line at Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, as they await an airlift out of the city, which is under threat from wildfires. The line is moving slowly, even though people were instructed to head to the school at 10 a.m. It is worth noting that as of 9:25 a.m., hundreds of individuals were already lined up along 49th Street. The police have been observed patrolling the line.

The territorial government has announced that air evacuations are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. It has also been stated that pets will be allowed on commercial carriers, but they must be crated. On military aircraft, it is advised that pets should also be crated if possible.

A resident of Yellowknife, Kirsten Murphy, who has a seat on an Air Canada flight to Vancouver at 5 p.m., expressed her concerns regarding the current situation. She emphasized that while people are worried about the fire itself, the biggest stress right now is figuring out how to leave. Murphy questioned how individuals without vehicles are supposed to get to the high school and stated that nobody can believe this is happening.

Air Canada has made adjustments to its flight schedule in response to the situation. The company has added two extra flights out of Yellowknife on Thursday, effectively doubling the number of flights it would usually have under normal conditions. However, all the flights scheduled out of the city today are already fully booked. Air Canada is working with authorities to determine how long they can continue to operate given the limitations imposed on flying due to the fires. The company has also addressed concerns about high prices for last-minute seats, stating that they have implemented a cap on fares for non-stop flights out of Yellowknife. They encourage individuals to visit their website to see the fares, which they claim have not been elevated.

Kirsten Murphy shared her experience of hearing rumors about an evacuation order throughout the city on Wednesday, before it was officially announced during a press conference at 7:30 p.m. She had initially planned to head to the North Arm of Great Slave Lake with her husband and dog but had to change their plans due to poor air quality. Murphy explained that their original plan was no longer feasible, so they had to rethink their strategy. While she expects to be on a plane this evening, her husband, who is a CBC North manager, will remain in town and will boat out onto Great Slave Lake with a friend if the situation worsens.

In preparation for evacuation, Murphy has packed her passport, hard drive, and camera equipment in a single bag. She believes that everything else is replaceable. Additionally, Murphy and her husband intend to leave Rubbermaid bins filled with dog kibble and water outside their home for animals that may have been left behind. She expressed her sadness for the animals, seniors, and elders who are unable to comprehend the current situation.