Hay River residents to begin going home Thursday, 11 days after fire evacuation

After nearly two weeks since a wildfire forced them out of their homes, Hay River residents will be allowed back into the community on Thursday. 

The Town of Hay River issued a notice on social media that the evacuation order will be downgraded to an evacuation alert. 

"Conditions are still not without risk, but the Town recognizes the offsetting impact and risks to residents being away from their homes," reads the notice. 

Town officials posted a video update late Tuesday. 

"Progressing the fire from its current out-of-control status to one that is being held with no significant growth and spread through the remaining fuel is a key condition prior to re-entry," said Glenn Smith, Hay River's senior administrative officer, in the update.

On Wednesday afternoon, territorial fire information officer Mike Westwick said the fire is "not yet considered being held" and could still grow. The fire is about six kilometres away from the community, and more hot, dry conditions are expected this week, with temperatures reaching into the mid-to-high 20s.

However, Westwick said his department has worked closely with the Town of Hay River, "and I think that we're in line with the fact that there are still risks that exist in town." 

He advises those returning to follow updates from the fire service and be aware of the risk. 

Speaking with CBC Wednesday afternoon, Hay River Mayor Kandis Jameson said it will still take a couple of days before they can get the airport up and running again. 

The town will have emergency health services, but the hospital will take some time to get up and running in full as well.

"Again, there is still an out-of-control wildfire not that far from our community, and people need to make decisions based on health and that kind of thing," Jameson said.

Phased re-entry

The town's re-entry plan outlines different phases for residents to return.

People working in essential services, ranging from health care and utilities, to transportation and grocers, are allowed back in the community Wednesday afternoon. 

The general public will be allowed to return Thursday starting at noon. 

Jameson said residents that return Thursday should be ready to leave again on short notice.

"If you don't have a way out of the community, people really need to think hard about coming back," she said.

The plan recommends that residents with special needs, including long-term health care clients and those requiring assisted living, should wait to return until all services are restored, but does not give a time frame for when that will be.

The plan also says property owners should clean their property of stored wood, brush and other fuel to reduce the risk of fire spreading in the community.  

Residents should flush their water systems for five minutes before use. 

There will also be an ongoing fire ban, which includes no burn permits, nor fire pits allowed. 

"The fire will continue to have flare ups and smoke throughout the summer," reads the town's notice. "The threat of an evacuation in the future will remain through the fire season."

The town has an information line for residents at 1-833-699-0188.

While the town will be letting people back in, Kátł'odeeche First Nation has not yet announced any re-entry plan for the reserve.  

Clean up and rebuild

The reserve sustained significant damage in the fire. 

John Smallgeese lives on the reserve and doesn't know whether he has a home to return to. 

"I just can't wait to get back home so I can help start rebuilding," he said.

Smallgeese is also waiting on the territorial government's plan to assist residents to recover from the disaster. 

Shirley Guitierrez has been staying with a friend in Yellowknife for 10 days. 

The Hay River resident said she was excited to go back to the community. 

"I just wanna go back home and do our regular thing, have a good shower, and maybe relax and check our gardens," she said. 

Although that garden may be covered in ash. 

"I'm pretty sure there's going to be a lot of [ash] because I have a camera in the back of my house, so I've been checking," she said. 

Guitierrez owns a dayhome and so the past 10 days she's had no income. She's hoping to reopen for families on Monday. 

"If we go home tomorrow, we should be able to clean and get ready."