N.W.T. officials to share details about lifting of Yellowknife evacuation order

Officials are scheduled to share details at a press conference today about the lifting of an evacuation order in Yellowknife and Dene First Nation. Residents of the two communities may be able to return to their homes as early as Sept. 6., as the threat of wildfires subsides.

Two wildfires in the vicinity of Yellowknife have been downgraded from “out of control” to “being held” as the territory looks to welcome back residents to the capital city and Dene First Nation as early as Sept. 6.

Officials are scheduled to provide an update about the wildfire situation in the territory at a press conference today at 4 p.m. MDT.

It is expected to cover details about the return plan for residents of Yellowknife and Dene First Nation, who may be able to return to their homes as early as next week., as the threat of wildfires subsides in the region.

As of Saturday afternoon, officials classified the Behchoko/Yellowknife fire, also called ZF015, and the Ingraham Trail Fire, also known as ZF011, as being held. The fires are 1,670 and 501 square kilometres in size respectively.

A fire is classified as being held when resources and sufficient suppression action have been taken that make a wildfire unlikely to spread beyond existent or pre-determined boundaries under prevailing and forecasting conditions, officials said in an online update.

The change of status of these fires does not mean it is safe to return yet, the update warns.

Meanwhile, two other fires in the North Slave region remain “out of control.” These are referred to as the ZF012 and ZF085 fires.