NATION AND WORLD BRIEFS Canadian military mobilizes to help fight wildfires

YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories – Members of the Canadian Armed Forces were set to mobilize in the Northwest Territories on Tuesday, as wildfires threatened communities including the territorial capital, and hundreds of people were airlifted to safety.

The military was expected to send a helicopter and Twin Otter airplane along with 124 soldiers, with 100 set to help with firefighting tasks such as dousing hot spots and clearing areas, and the other 24 coordinating logistics. The city of Yellowknife, the territorial capital, declared a local state of emergency Monday night, citing an imminent wildfire threat.

As of Tuesday, there were over 230 active wildfires in the territory, and five communities had been evacuated. Hundreds of northerners were being airlifted from at least three communities in the face of wind-whipped wildfires.