Environment

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…

Environment, Featured, News August 31, 2023

WILDFIRE UPDATE, AUG. 31, 7:30 P.M.: “The calm before the storm today—literally.”

Extreme fire conditions expected in the North and South Slave on Friday.


Thursday was “the calm before the storm today—literally” for fires in the North Slave, according to Fire NWT. Strong winds and hot temperatures are forecast for Friday, which is expected to cause extreme fire behaviour from the North Slave Complex of fires. Near Hay River, Friday is also forecast to…

Environment, Featured, News August 29, 2023

Wildfire update, AUG. 29 8:00 p.m.: Yellowknife begins inviting essential workers back

Nearest fire still classified as "being held."


Yellowknife is currently in the third phase of the GNWT’s five-phase reopening plan, which is to begin calling back essential workers and essential businesses. The plan was first unveiled at a press conference on Monday afternoon. It consists of making sure the community is safe; Checking for damage and identifying…

Environment, Featured, News, Weather August 28, 2023

Wildfire update, Aug. 28 7:00 p.m.: YK fire “being held” as GNWT rolls out five-part return plan

No date has yet been set for re-entry.


Update: A previous version of this article quoted a fire information officer as stating there had been new fire damage to Paradise Gardens and Patterson Road. Another fire information officer now says this information was given in error, and there was no new damage to Paradise Gardens or Patterson Road….

Environment, Featured, News, Weather August 25, 2023

Wildfire update, Aug. 25 9:30 p.m.: Hay River prepares for worst as wildfire situation takes a turn

Meanwhile, finance minister announces suite of new financial supports.


The Town of Hay River is preparing for the worst tonight as the fire situation takes a negative turn. That’s according to updates shared at the most recent GNWT press conference. On Friday, extreme temperatures and winds from the southwest pushed the fire towards the community. Nonessential personnel are being…

Community, Environment, Events, Featured, News August 23, 2023

Wildfire update, Aug. 23 9:00 p.m.: RCMP able but reluctant to enforce evacuation orders

Violators could face one year in custody or a $5,000 fine.


As the wildfire crisis drags on in the Northwest Territories, police say they are reluctant to use their powers to enforce evacuation orders. That’s according to a press conference hosted by GNWT officials earlier this evening. The evacuation orders have been rewritten to emphasise the RCMP have the power to…

Community, Environment, Featured, News August 21, 2023

‘We’re gonna get through this:’ Enterprise SAO says 80 per cent of his community is gone

Blair Porter is confident his community will come back stronger than ever.


Blair Porter is confident his community will rebuild. That’s a tall order, considering how little of it is left. Porter, the SAO for the Hamlet of Enterprise, estimates about 80 per cent of his home community was burned to the ground when wildfire tore through the area. “They let us…