No firm timeline yet exists for the end of the wildfire evacuation of much of the NWT, and students may have to begin the school year learning remotely again.

During a press conference Aug. 20, Premier Caroline Cochrane said the GNWT is examining remote education, like was done during the Covid-19 pandemic.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is concern about the school year coming up,SA国际影视传媒� the premier acknowledged. SA国际影视传媒淚t will be a bit difficult, but we did virtual (learning) during Covid-19, so the schools have that ability already. The lessons that we learned in Covid-19 should be able to be implemented.

SA国际影视传媒淚t will be a matter of reaching out to parents. (The Department of) Education, Culture and Employment is actively looking at this issue at this time.SA国际影视传媒�

When asked what would happen with the upcoming territorial election set for Oct. 3 SA国际影视传媒� with nominations to open in three weeks SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane deferred answers to the Speaker of the House, Frederick Blake Jr., who was not present during Sunday eveningSA国际影视传媒檚 press conference.

SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 represent the legislative assembly,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Fire season running longer

Department of Environment and Climate Change information officer Mike Westwick said the timeline to return depends on the situation in each affected NWT community.

SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檙e facing down a different situation in different communities,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e canSA国际影视传媒檛 give one answer for everybody.

SA国际影视传媒淚 can never be confident in what the weather is going to do.SA国际影视传媒�

Westwick added that by this time of the year, wildfire season is usually over in the North.

SA国际影视传媒淭o put a fire like this out, you need a lot of rain,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur objective is not to put out this fire. That would be impossible without the help of nature.

SA国际影视传媒淭he objective is to keep the fire away from things we donSA国际影视传媒檛 want it to reach.SA国际影视传媒�

On paper, the fire season runs until Sept. 30 in the NWT. Westwick noted that wildfires were taking SA国际影视传媒渂ig runsSA国际影视传媒� in the middle of October. At that time, lakes would freeze overnight but temperatures would rise above 20 C during the day.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e in a new world,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e extended our crews longer than we normally would. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e ready to last longer.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut in no way weSA国际影视传媒檙e sitting here telling folks that we think it will be the end of September before folks can return, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 really hard to give an operational timeline.

SA国际影视传媒淚n this business, you win or lose based on the weather. I understand the anxiety that folks are going through but itSA国际影视传媒檚 really hard to put a date on it.SA国际影视传媒�

He added the fires are burning deep and could return in spring.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen you see fires burning that deep in the soil, there certainly is a risk of holdover fire,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e saw holdover fires at the beginning of the year.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith the magnitude of the fires weSA国际影视传媒檝e seen this year, it certainly is a possibility.SA国际影视传媒�