Crews prepare for more difficult weather as heat soars in the Northwest Territories

Heat and wind are adding pressure to crews in the Northwest Territories where fires continue to inch closer to communities. Here's the latest.

Environment Canada has issued more heat warnings for multiple communities in the Northwest Territories where fires are burning a few kilometres from homes.

Here's the latest:

Temperatures are expected to reach between 29 and 35 C on Monday in the parts of the South Slave region. In the communities surrounding Wood Buffalo National Park, temperatures could be around 30 C.

"The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors," the warning from Environment Canada reads on Monday.

Crews in these areas are battling out-of-control wildfires that have kept people from their homes for over a week. Conditions in the last few days have deteriorated as high heat and winds swept through.

In a few days, the wildfire threatening the Town of Hay River moved from eight kilometres away to 1.5 kilometres from the town's centre.

"Significant damage" has been seen following the wildfire's path to the community in the areas of Patterson Road and Paradise Gardens, located south of Hay River.