Global National: Aug. 16, 2023 | NWT declares states of emergency as fire crisis deepens

In tonight's top story: The Northwest Territories has declared a state of emergency as hundreds of wildfires have now decimated more 2.1 million hectares of land so far. Heather Yourex-West looks at the devastation and the fire fight in some of Canada's most remote communities.

Meanwhile, Yellowknife is on high alert over fears a nearby wildfire could creep closer to the city. Jayme Doll reports from the scene and speaks with anxious people about the looming threat.

In other wildfire headlines, the road to Lahaina, Hawaii has reopened. Neetu Garcha gets a first-hand look at the destruction and explains why the public still isn't allowed in some areas.

Furthermore, while Hawaiian authorities are beginning to investigate the exact cause of the fire that destroyed the tourist town of Lahaina, there's video evidence suggesting windy weather knocked down power lines, contributing to the disaster. Mike Drolet looks at what's known about the timeline of the catastrophe and the tough questions directed at Hawaiian Electric, the utility company.

Back in Canada, housing starts fell by 10 per cent in July, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Mackenzie Gray explains what's behind the troubling trend during the housing crisis, what cities have been hardest hit and how this could affect real estate prices.

Plus, researchers in Singapore are investigating whether artificial intelligence can scan a person's brain to figure out what they're looking at. Redmond Shannon explains how it works, the ethical considerations and how it could one day be used to help non-verbal people communicate.