Yellowknifer

As Yellowknifers slowly make their way back to their home Sept. 6, officials are asking people to not let their children play in the fire-ransacked woods.

Work on securing the Town of Hay River, K’átł’odeeche First Nation and the surrounding areas continues, with 30 kilometres of fire line in development.

Extreme drought conditions continue to prolong the Wood Buffalo Complex, even as milder weather gave wildfire fighters room to maneuver.

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) has issued a public notice about the health and social service levels in Yellowknife as the community recovers from the impact of the recent wildfire evacuation. The notice covers the period from Monday, Sept. 4th to Wednesday, Sept. 6th, 2023.

After being evacuated for more than a week due to wildfires, residents of Yellowknife, Dettah and N’Dilo can return home on Wednesday, as the Evacuation Order has been downgraded to an Evacuation Alert.

The city of Yellowknife has issued a statement urging residents to take stock of foods in their homes upon their return after the recent wildfire evacuation.

The evacuation order for Yellowknife residents who were displaced by the wildfires will be lifted an hour earlier, at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Power has been restored in Fort Providence and the gas pumps are ready to go at Big River Service Centre after a truck knocked out three power poles earlier in the day, knocking out power for much of the community.

People who aren’t in a hurry to return to Yellowknife or are being asked to stay away for health reasons currently have until Sept. 8 to enjoy free accommodations, assuming they can find them.

Cooler than seasonal temperatures and a change of wind have helped Yellowknife firefighters in their battle against the North Slave Complex wildfire.