Minister orders everyone out of Yellowknife, Dettah, Ndilǫ and the Ingraham trail by noon Friday

In a news conference Wednesday evening, Minister Shane Thompson announced a city-wide evacuation order that would involve a "phased approach" with people from areas of the city already under alert (Kam Lake, Grace Lake, Engle industrial area) heading out Wednesday night, alongside people in Dettah.

"The fire now represents a real threat to the city," Thompson said, adding it could reach the outskirts of the city by the weekend. The fire was about 17 kilometres from the city on Wednesday, he said.