Smoke from a wildfire seen on Highway 3 between Yellowknife and Behchoko, N.W.T.
On Monday August 28, NWT Fire announced the Behchoko/Yellowknife Fire (ZF015) was being held.
Officials say while the news is positive, they say it does not mean the fire is under control.
The City of Yellowknife remains under a Territorial Evacuation Order and Highway 3 remains closed to Northbound traffic and any person that is not cleared to enter will be turned back.
In a statement, NWT Fire say they continue to work with the Government of the Northwest Territories to develop a phased plan to ensure the safe return of residents.
“The GNWT and the City anticipate sharing the outline of re-entry plans later today. A phased approach is necessary for the safe and orderly return of residents and businesses to Yellowknife. Ensuring that critical services are available, including healthcare and essential businesses, and that core municipal services are on the ground is an important first step to prepare for everyone to return”
According to NWT Fire, crews have been working tirelessly to create firebreaks around the City to clear strips of land and trees and anything else that could fuel the fires. Canadian Armed Forces members are in the NWT helping with firefighting and evacuation efforts. Air Tankers and sprinkler systems are being used to wet the ground as much as possible and are running 24 hours a day.
Yellowknife RCMP have also deployed additional police officers who will be conducting neighborhood patrols and providing evacuation assistance for as long as it is safe to do so.
The City of Edmonton said it has registered more than 6,000 wildfire evacuees over the last 10 days at the Expo Centre, with roughly 3,100 evacuees staying at hotels.
More than 3,500 Yellowknife evacuees have registered in Calgary.
Over the weekend, fire officials said cooler nights, high humidity and favourable winds have helped quiet the fire burning near Yellowknife, which remains about 15 kilometres from the city.
But rising temperatures Monday were expected to increase fire behavior both in the territorial capital and the community of Hay River, where flames were only a few kilometers from town.
NWT Residents can call 1-844-259-1793 to ask questions about the evacuation.
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