(CNN)– Hundreds of wildfires raging in parts of Canada’s Northwest Territories have prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders and declare a state of emergency as flames threaten the capital Yellowknife.

The state of emergency allows more resources to be allocated to help the more than 230 areas burned by active fires in the Northwest Territories, according to Shane Thompson, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

“We are in a crisis situation and our government is using every tool available to help us,” Thompson said in a press release.

The mayor of Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, also declared a local state of emergency followed by an evacuation order for certain areas as the fires approach.

The towns of Ndilo, Dettah and Ingram Trail are also under evacuation orders, Northwest Territories officials said in a statement Wednesday. Those who cannot leave these areas by road can register for evacuation flights which will begin on Thursday, officials added.

“Residents living along Ingraham Trail, Dettah, Kam Lake, Grace Lake and the Engle business district are currently at increased risk and should evacuate as soon as possible. Other residents have until noon on Friday, August 18, 2023 to evacuate,” officials said in the release.

The new evacuation orders come as much of the South Slave region, including the town of Hay River, was placed under evacuation order over the weekend. Roads from Hay River to the Alberta border and west to Yellowknife were also closed, city officials said in a Facebook post.

“The situation changed quickly. Strong winds carried the fire 10 km from the community. The fire is expected to reach Hay River this evening,” the Northwest Territories Fire Service said. a Facebook update this Wednesday evening. “Crews that were in the path of the fire are moving away for their own safety and are repositioning to assist in other areas.”

A team from Alberta was deployed to the Hay River area to place fire retardant to help stop the spread of flames, according to the Northwest Territories Fire Department, a Canadian government agency.

“Sprinklers and structure protections are in place and activated, other operations will continue to operate as conditions permit,” the agency added.

Meanwhile, evacuees from South Slave were initially advised to go to a reception center in Grande Prairie, but the Government of the Northwest Territories has since redirected them to a new center in St. Albert, in Alberta.

As of Wednesday evening, a total of 236 fires were actively burning in the Northwest Territories, officials said.

US on air quality alert due to fires in Canada

Thick smoke from raging fires in the southern United States triggered an air quality alert from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Thursday and Friday.

“Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in Canada’s Northwest Territories is moving south through central Canada and into Minnesota on Wednesday,” the National Weather Service warned. “A strong cold front will bring this smoke across the state this Thursday.”

Smoke could reach the Minnesota-Canada border around midnight Thursday, then possibly move toward the Twin Cities around noon and southern Minnesota around 3 p.m. Thursday, the weather service said.

Smoke moves towards the city of Yellowknife after a state of emergency was declared in the Northwest Territories, Canada, on August 15. (Credit: Pat Kane/Reuters)

Air quality could potentially reach the purple or very unhealthy category for several hours in eastern Minnesota, the weather service said.

Authorities are urging sensitive groups, such as people with lung or heart conditions, the elderly and children, to avoid prolonged or strenuous exertion, and the general public is urged to limit outdoor activities.

“Smoke will remain over the eastern half of the state this Friday and fine particle levels will remain high for most of the day,” the weather service said. “Winds will be from the south this Friday afternoon and smoke will begin to leave the state and disperse. “Air quality is expected to improve below alert levels by the end of the day Friday.”

In Canada, National Defense Minister Bill Blair mobilized the Canadian Armed Forces on Tuesday to provide firefighting personnel, airlift resources and logistical support to the Northwest Territories.

“We stand with the people of the Northwest Territories as they experience the worst fire season on record, and I hope our military will do everything they can to help their fellow Canadians,” said Blair in A declaration.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday he was in communication with Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane.

“To the people of the Northwest Territories: we are here to help. We have mobilized members of the Canadian Armed Forces and will continue to provide the necessary resources. “I spoke with Prime Minister Caroline Cochrane about this today and reaffirmed our commitment to helping wherever we can,” Trudeau said in a statement. a publication on social networks.

–CNN’s Taylor Ward and Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.