City of Yellowknife says residents may return as early as Sept. 6

The City of Yellowknife and a nearby First Nation said Friday that wildfire evacuees may be able to return as soon as Sept. 6.

The City of Yellowknife and a nearby First Nation said Friday that wildfire evacuees may be able to return as soon as Sept. 6.

Residents of the Northwest Territories capital and members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation are set to be allowed to return home starting at noon that day, "barring any increase in wildfire activity and risk along Highway 1 or near Yellowknife between now and then."

"Residents must all be prepared for a reduction in services and businesses that may not be open, or may only be able to provide limited services," the city and First Nation said in a news release.

Shane Thompson, the territory's minister of municipal and community affairs, said in a statement that although the government is looking forward to welcoming residents home, people are asked to stay where they are until the evacuation order is lifted on Wednesday.

"This will help make re-entry safer and more organized," Thompson said. "Please do not travel back toward the N.W.T.-Alberta border until Wednesday, Sept. 6. No supports are available in northern Alberta for residents considering moving north to wait for the order to be lifted."

He added that while a return date being established is good news for Yellowknifers and residents of Dettah and Ndilo, people from the communities of Hay River, Fort Smith, Kakisa, K'atlodeeche First Nation and Enterprise remain displaced.

"We continue actively fighting the fires outside of your communities to get you home as soon as it is safe," Thompson said. "Evacuees from these South Slave communities are asked to remain where they are rather than travel to Yellowknife."