No highway fire risk expected as public prepares Yellowknife return

Wildfires are not expected to pose challenges along the route from Alberta up into the N.W.T. as people make their way back to homes in Yellowknife, Dettah, Ndilǫ and along the Ingraham Trail in the coming days, according to the territorial government. 

Mike Westwick, a fire information officer for the N.W.T., said Monday afternoon the wind event that had been "causing some concern" along Highway 1 had passed.

Over the weekend, strong winds had been expected to whip up fires along the highway. The conditions forced the territory to pause the return of some essential workers about 2.5 weeks after the city's 20,000 workers had been forced to leave because of wildfires.

"As you get ready to travel we don't see any imminent risks of fire causing challenges on Highway 1 for at least the next three days," said Westwick. 

Westwick also said the fire between Yellowknife and Behchokǫ̀, as well as the one along the Ingraham Trail are still being held. That means they are no longer considered to be out of control, but they aren't completely under control either. 

Essential workers continued to arrive in Yellowknife Monday, while the general public makes plans to head back to the N.W.T. capital with the evacuation order set to be lifted at noon Wednesday. It'll be replaced by an evacuation alert. 

Westwick said Monday the evacuation order for people living along Highway 3, between Behchokǫ̀ and Yellowknife, would be downgraded to an alert on Wednesday as well. 

Earlier Monday, CBC News learned that evacuees staying at some hotels in Calgary were being asked to leave before the evacuation order was officially lifted. During the press conference, officials said seven hotels no longer had capacity to accommodate evacuees, and that they arranged alternate accommodations for people right away. 

The return to Yellowknife is a massive logistical undertaking — with residents deciding whether to make the journey back on flights organized by the territorial government or by vehicle. Officials have warned wildfire and weather conditions may cause delays on the highway, and that once people get home, some services will be lacking. 

Elsewhere, recent rain in the N.W.T.'s South Slave region dampened massive wildfires burning near Hay River and Fort Smith, though officials say hot, dry conditions are expected to return later this week. 

We've compiled a Q + A where we've answered people's questions about the return. You can also send us your questions at webnorth@cbc.ca.

Below are live updates from Monday afternoon's news conference. They'll appear in descending order, from newest to oldest. 

5:01 p.m. - That's the end of the news conference, thank you for reading.

4:59 p.m.: NNSL asks if the RCMP have had to charge anyone trying to re-enter Yellowknife while the evacuation order remains in place. Corporal Matt Halstead, a spokesperson for the RCMP, says that they have not had to charge anyone under the Emergency Management Act.