Hay River residents thankful to return, still on alert for possible re-evacuation
CBC
One by one, small convoys trickled into Hay River, N.W.T., Thursday afternoon.
After being displaced across the Northwest Territories for 11 days due to the wildfire burning on Hay River's doorstep, residents are finally allowed to return home.
On Wednesday, the Town of Hay River issued a notice that the evacuation order will be downgraded to an evacuation alert. By Thursday afternoon, N.W.T. Fire said the wildfire was classified as "being held."
Longtime Hay River residents Matt and Jill Morse returned home Thursday afternoon. They had first evacuated with their two children to Enterprise and then moved on to Louise Falls Campground, where they were joined by almost 300 other evacuees.
"I'm just happy to have a home to come home to. There's a lot of people on the reserve that don't, unfortunately, which is really sad," said Matt.
He was confident that, just like during the flood last year, community members would come together and help however they could.
"I know just the way the North works ... we'll pull together and we'll make sure that the people that are displaced will have a place to go and hopefully be able to get back up and running soon," he said.
Morse said it was a long 11 days away from home, but he and his family rolled with the punches, and being able to stay at the campground made that much easier.
"They welcomed us with open arms, they made sure the facilities were up and running. In fact, I think they opened early just to help accommodate a lot of the evacuees," he said.
"We made the best of it, like Hay Riverites do."
His wife Jill said she was proud to see her family come together as a team. She said her kids learned how to maintain the camper and helped their dad —still recovering from surgery — pack heavy items.
She said by the end of it they had the whole cleaning and daily chore system down pat, a system that included being in charge of their own bath towel.
"I only brought one towel," she laughed. "Luckily, I was able to borrow three more."
Matt said while the town remains on evacuation alert, they are going to make sure they are better prepared in case they have to leave again.
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