Yellowknifer

Drought conditions worse than anything in living memory are making wildfire containment in the Wood Buffalo region more difficult.

With the City of Yellowknife and the Yellowknives Dene having announced a return date of Wednesday, Sept. 6 for citizens, Minister Shane Thompson quickly urged Northerners not to come home any sooner and discouraged South Slave residents not to head to Yellowknife.

Yellowknifers will be able to return home Sept. 6.

NWT residents are being warned that health services will be limited upon their return to Yellowknife.

Peace River Municipal Library kicked off its annual Wastenot Clothes Swap last week, an event that allows community members to donate lightly-used clothing and school supplies for those in need.

GWNT officials say they hope to resume re-entry of critical businesses as soon as the highways are safe to travel on.

Firefighters have made small steps in fighting the Yellowknife Wildfire, but strong winds this weekend mean it’s still not safe to return to the city.

Barge services to Tulita, Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells are expected to be delayed due to the Hay River wildfire evacuation.

Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty wants to make it crystal clear: Don’t call us, we’ll call you.

A number of environmental factors determine if and how wildfires develop into something like the ones ravaging the NWT this summer.