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Registration for flights home from Alberta to Fort Smith and Hay River closes at 8pm on Thursday.
The battle against wildfires outside both communities continues. On Wednesday, NWT Fire said a controlled burn designed to protect Hay River and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation from an area of fire to the east had been successful.
Essential workers are continuing to make the journey back to those communities ahead of the expected return of most residents early next week.
Thursday’s forecast suggested a chance of showers across the South Slave, while the morning brought rain over Yellowknife.
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On this page, we’re bringing you updates throughout Thursday.
Read our quick summary of wildfire threat to get the latest on the fires in less than a minute of reading. And remember to bookmark our homepage for all of our coverage in one place.
You can also check out our guide to how Yellowknife businesses are reopening and the offers they have for returning residents.
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Updates appear below, latest first. All times are MT.
Live text reporter: Ollie Williams in Yellowknife
9:03 – This message is for NWT residents who have lost homes because of fires over the past few months, or anyone reading this who knows someone in that situation.
We’re working on some reporting that follows the process people who’ve lost their homes now face. What’s next and what do the challenges and supports look like? If that’s you, what help are you returning to? What are you planning to do? Who have you talked to (insurers, governments, friends, companies, family, neighbours, others) and what do they say?
If you’re happy to speak with my colleague Simona about this, let her know. It is, of course, a subject we intend to treat with great sensitivity, with a view to producing reporting that can help others in similar situations.
8:47 – This map came in late last night from NWT Fire, showing in red the area burned so far by fire SS052. The lighter pink is the fire in May that caused the first evacuation of Hay River and KFN.
“Defences continue to hold throughout the Hay River corridor,” NWT Fire stated.
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Conditions today suggest a chance of showers (per the Environment Canada forecast) but still quite warm for this time of year, with highs in the South Slave up around 20C.
8:44 – No major travel updates this morning. Highways 2 and 5 are open for essential workers (and Fort Resolution residents) only. Expect the use of pilot cars to help you home, depending on conditions.
Still need to register for a flight home? Here’s the link. The deadline is 8pm tonight, we’re told.
8:42 – Good morning! What a fantastic rainy morning here in Yellowknife. Long may that continue. Can I also recommend snow.