Yellowknife, Ndilǫ and Dettah residents can return home on Sept. 6
CBC
Residents of Yellowknife, Ndilǫ, Dettah and the Ingraham Trail will be able to go home starting at noon on Wednesday, three weeks after the territory issued an evacuation order for these communities due to an approaching wildfire.
The city, along with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN), issued a joint plan that states that the city and the YKDFN will ask the department of Municipal and Community Affairs to change the evacuation order to an alert at noon on Wednesday. The plan includes keeping all three communities under an evacuation alert starting that day.
Most essential workers will begin returning home on Monday and Tuesday, said the city in a Facebook post on Friday evening. The post said the Wednesday return date for the general public is dependent on weather conditions.
The territorial government has yet to issue a public statement about the Sept. 6 return date.
The city and YKDFN's plan said those with special care needs, including long-term health care patients and assisted living residents, are advised not to return while the communities are under an evacuation alert. No other details were provided.
The evacuation of about 22,000 people from Yellowknife and neighbouring communities was ordered on Aug. 16. Displaced residents have found refuge across Alberta, Winnipeg, B.C., the Yukon and even further afield.
Officials announced a phased re-entry plan for Yellowknife on Aug. 28, that would see essential workers in municipal services, grocery stores and health care, among other areas, return and prepare basic services for residents.
That plan was delayed heading into the September long weekend as strong, gusty winds were expected to close Highway 1 in the territory's South Slave region.
The wildfire that caused the evacuation remains about 15 kilometres from the city and has been declared as "being held."
The return plan also included a breakdown of what is considered essential. This includes:
Property owners returning to Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndilǫ are being asked to FireSmart their property to reduce the risk of wildfires, according to the plan.
The boards representing all of the Yellowknife schools issued an unsigned letter to parents on Friday that said schools will not be opening by Sept. 11.
The letter was issued before the city announced the date for the return to Yellowknife, and said school officials are "awaiting further information about the re-entry schedule."
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority announced earlier in the day once the evacuation order ends residents should expect limited health care services.
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