Articles by Ian Down

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 15, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 15 1:30 p.m.: Hay River fire will likely need to be managed until snowfall: ECC Minister

Hay River’s town council plans to meet sometime today to re-evaluate the fire risk.


As essential workers return to Hay River, the territory’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change warns residents they may need to get used to living with wildfire for the foreseeable future. That’s according to updates shared in a press conference on Thursday afternoon. “It’s very likely these fires will need…

Community, Featured, Justice, News, Police September 15, 2023

Five youth arrested in connection with Fort Simpson property crimes

Four of the youth will participate in a 'youth diversion program' rather than face charges.


Five youth have been arrested and one charged in Fort Simpson in connection with a string of break-ins and thefts spanning two weeks, according to the RCMP. Police in the community were able to link three break and enters, three thefts from property, and one “mischief to a vehicle” to…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 13, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 13 6:00 p.m.: Essential workers to return to Hay River, although fire danger remains

Meanwhile, health services have not yet fully returned to Yellowknife.


Hay River’s essential workers are scheduled to return to the community starting today after the Town triggered the first phase of its re-entry plan yesterday evening. The Town announced the return of essential workers after a consultation with the Department of Environment and Climate change yesterday evening. The general public…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 12, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 12 5:30 p.m.: Registration opens for South Slave return flights while Hay River delays announcing return dates

No dates have yet been set for these return flights.


Pre-registration is now available for return flights to evacuated South Slave communities, while Hay River still has not announced return dates for its residents. That’s according to updates shared by the GNWT and by the Town of Hay River on Tuesday. Pre-registration for South Slave return flights opened at 8:00…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 11, 2023

Wildfire update, September 11 5:00 p.m.: Fort Smith approves return dates as North, South Slave brace for more difficult days ahead

Fort Smith's essential workers are tentatively scheduled to start returning tomorrow.


Residents of Fort Smith now have a tentative timeline for when they can return home. On Monday morning, the town’s council unanimously approved a re-entry plan for the community: According to this plan, essential workers will return, and essential services will be returned to operation, from Sept. 12 to 17….

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 8, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 8 10:00 p.m.: Wildfire releases re-entry plan, but still no date for return

The Town is expected to make a decision on return dates early next week.


The Town Council of Hay River has approved a re-entry plan for the community. Mayor Kandis Jameson announced the approval of the plan during a media availability on Friday afternoon. Similar to Yellowknife’s re-entry plan, essential workers will return first, followed by members of the general public without health complications….

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 7, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 7 9:00 p.m.: Hay River to release re-entry plan tomorrow afternoon

The weekend is predicted to be a difficult one for firefighting near the town, with warm, dry conditions forecast.


Last updated Friday, Sept. 8 at 8:45 p.m. As evacuated North Slave residents returned home, 676 vehicles, including commercial vehicles, crossed the Deh Cho Bridge on Wednesday, while 268 residents returned on repatriation flights. That’s according to updates shared at a GNWT press conference on Thursday evening. As residents return,…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 6, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 6 8:30 p.m.: Yellowknifers return home as threat continues in South Slave

It was not immediately clear how many had made the trip either by road or by air on Wednesday.


Yellowknifers began to return home today after three weeks away from the city. On Wednesday morning, the evacuation order for Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndilǫ was downgraded to an evacuation alert. It was not immediately clear how many had made the trip either by road or by air on Wednesday. As…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather September 5, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 5 9:00 p.m.: North Slave evacuees prepare to return home, while South Slave is wracked by drought

Drought conditions are causing fire to burn deep into the ground, posing a challenge for fire crews.


As residents of Yellowknife, Dettah, Ndilǫ, and the Ingraham Trail prepare to return home tomorrow, in the South Slave the situation is different. That’s according to updates shared by the GNWT on Tuesday. The South Slave in particular is experiencing severe drought conditions: Around the Wood Buffalo Complex near Fort…

Environment, Featured, News September 1, 2023

Wildfire update, Sept. 1 8:30 p.m.: Residents of Yellowknife, Dettah, Ndilǫ can go home starting Wednesday

The City and YKDFN caution the return is subject to weather conditions.


Residents of Yellowknife, Dettah, and Ndilǫ can finally return home at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 6. That’s according to a joint update shared by the City of Yellowknife and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation on Friday evening. This puts an end to three weeks of uncertainty for more than 20,000…