N.W.T. says plan for post-fire returns ready but it’s ‘not time’
Global News
While officials outlined the five-step plan they have for having residents return to their communities, they stressed people should not return until they are told to do so.
Officials in the Northwest Territories are stressing that there is no date yet in terms of when residents will finally be able to return home amid the ongoing wildfires, but laid out a five-stage process that will be followed when that time comes.
Jay Boast, information officer for the territory’s Emergency Management Organization, said Monday there was no date yet for when emergency officials would declare the fire under control or when governments and the territory would welcome residents back. But he added efforts have been made since evacuations were complete on plans for that return.
“It was a monumental task to get everyone out, and it’s going to require a thoughtful and staged approach to bring everyone back,” he said.
Once emergency crews and officials with Environment and Climate Change inform the territory that the fire is deemed under control, this will begin the five-step process, but he cautioned the timing would differ from “one community to another.”
When the risk has decreased, including access for travel and air quality, communities will be assessed for what damage has occurred. In areas that received more damage, Boast said there may be a more involved process and damage assessments with be done in collaboration with governments and it will be determined what supports may be needed before essential people are brought back — who will be brought back in the third phase.
This will see the definition of essential people expanded to include community services that would be needed before the larger population is “welcomed back.” Basic services will then be re-established in the fourth phase, such as those who work at hospitals, gas stations and grocery stores.
Boast concluded, saying that residents will “come home” in phase five, but details are still being worked out to ensure there is enough fuel on hand for those who left via highway, and coordinate the return of those who flew out by air.
“We may have to look at whether we stagger the dates of travel to ensure we don’t end up with congested routes that still are needed for wildfire response in other areas,” Boast said. “There is still a lot of work to do before communities with GNWT support can fully outline what the re-entry will look like.