Yellowknife wildfire ‘being held’ but not yet safe for residents to return, officials say | CBC News

Firefighting efforts have halted the spread of a wildfire near Yellowknife, but N.W.T officials said Monday it is still not yet ready for evacuees to return to the territorial capital.

N.W.T. Fire posted on Facebook that the wildfire near the capital is classified as “being held,” meaning it was not likely to to spread beyond its current boundaries, but noted the status does not mean it’s safe yet for residents to return. 

“I must stress that we are still under an evacuation order and this is not a call for people to return to Yellowknife,” Mayor Rebecca Alty said in a statement on Monday.

“I know that it’s been a stressful and difficult time, and we look forward to welcoming everyone home soon. Until then, please stay where you have settled and take care.”

Wildfires in the Northwest Territories have triggered evacuation orders in the capital Yellowknife along with the communities of Ndilǫ, Dettah, Fort Smith, Enterprise, Hay River, Kátł’odeeche First Nation, Kakisa and Jean Marie River.

Nearly 70 per cent of N.W.T. residents are displaced.