Massive wildfire continues to threaten lives and properties in Canada’s Northwest Territories capital, Yellowknife City, with thousands being evacuated.

At least 20,000 residents were evacuated between Thursday afternoon and Friday, and others who could not wait have driven long distances to towns and cities in northern Alberta, while some boarded commercial planes. 

As the evacuation effort continues in Yellowknife, a state of emergency has been declared in Kelowna in the province of British Columbia.

The wildfire is the worst fire season on record in Canada, with more than 1000 active fires burning nationwide. 

Indigenous communities living in rural and forested areas in Canada have been hit hard as the wildfires continue to threaten important traditions such as hunting, fishing and cultivating plants. 

“I’m really anxious, and I’m scared. I’m emotional; I’m in shock. I don’t know what I’m coming home to do or if I’m coming home. There are just so many unknowns here,” Angela Canning, a resident, told the BBC. 

Mrs Canning said she had to leave her husband behind since he’s an essential worker. 

The firefighting services are not as well-resourced as the larger towns and cities in Canada, but they have continued to battle the wildfires by preventing their further spread. 

Although officials have declared that the fire, moving slowly, is now 15km (10 miles) northwest of the city, they claimed the fire could reach the outskirts this weekend if there is no rain. 

Also, authorities have warned about the air quality in the Yellowknife region, where multiple towns have been evacuated from encroaching wildfires.

They said smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility and can harm health even at low concentrations.

Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Environment Minister, who spoke on the wildfire, said the “situation is dire.” 

Mr Guilbeault explained that the country had already carried out “one of the largest evacuations we have seen in our history.”

“But the evacuation has proceeded in an orderly fashion,” he said on national TV. 

“I’m the first one to admit that when it comes to being ready to face the impacts of climate change, we’re not ready…(sic). Canada’s not ready, and I don’t know of any country in the world that is ready.”

Experts have also said climate change exacerbated the wildfire problem even though Canada is used to dealing with wildfires at this time of year.

They observed that climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that likely fueled the fires.