The community of Fort Providence, N.W.T., has been ordered to evacuate as of 8:57 a.m. on Sunday.

Community members are asked to leave immediately to Hay River. Residents needing transportation should meet at the community arena.

An evacuation alert had been put in place on Saturday. According to an update from N.W.T. Fire on Sunday morning, the wildfire grew significantly overnight driven by severe northerly winds.

The fire is now two kilometres north of Fort Providence.

N.W.T. wildfire information officer Mike Westwick called the fire situation critical.

The government's wind speed monitors showed little to no wind in the community this morning, but that could change by this afternoon, as northerly winds are expected to push the fire closer to the community.

Westwick said it could

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