Yellowknifers are now just a few days away from returning home as the evacuation order for the city is set to be downgraded to an evacuation alert on Wednesday at noon.
In a press conference, NWT officials addressed some concerns residents have raised regarding the logistics of moving nearly 20,000 people to the capital.
Communications Advisor for the territorial Emergency Response Organization (EMO) Jay Boast, spoke on several potential issues NWT infrastructure may face upon re-entry, including traffic.
“Given the anticipated traffic coming through Highway 1, northbound to Yellowknife, I want to assure that the territorial EMO and our partner departments and agencies have put in measures that your drive home is safe,” Boast says.
“The Department of Infrastructure has put in various supports to manage traffic flow and we have installed security points around Enterprise as a means to prevent access to the community,” he adds.
According to fire officials, the North Slave fires continue to hold after a long fight to keep the fires at bay and support a safe return for residents on Wednesday, following a concerning ‘wind event’ expected to challenge fire crews last week.
“For those looking to head back home, I can offer some good news, the wind event passed which was causing some concern,” NWT Fire Information Officer Mike Westwick says.
Westwick also spoke on the status of the roads that Yellowknife residents will be using on their return home, saying there is no ‘imminent risk’ during the first days of re-entry.
“As you get ready to travel, we don’t see any imminent risks of fires causing challenges on Highway 1 for at least the next three days which is more good news as you all start to make your way home,” Westwick says.
Despite the expectation of a safe return home for residents, Westwick issued a word of caution for those returning to the city in the coming days.
“We’re going to have fire crews and equipment on Highway 1 for the foreseeable future,” he says.
“We have a very active fire situation throughout there continuing, and their [crews] biggest hazard out on the job site is your vehicles.”
Additionally, residents are asked to expect smoke upon arrival due to the ongoing wildfire season, not just in the NWT, but across Canada as well.
