The mayor of Yellowknife says itSA国际影视传媒檚 not safe for residents to go home to the territorial capital, but notes city officials are working on a return plan as a fire continues to burn about 15 kilometres away.

Most of the residents in the city of 20,000 evacuated by air or road late last week to cities and towns as far south as Calgary and as far east as Winnipeg.

SA国际影视传媒淥f course, the question that everyone wants to know is when can we come home?SA国际影视传媒� Rebecca Alty told reporters at a briefing Tuesday evening.

The return plan, she said, has two parts.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne is fire safety and two is ensuring essential services are back up and operational,SA国际影视传媒� said Alty.

SA国际影视传媒淲e started our planning on Friday and weSA国际影视传媒檒l continue working on it until we can welcome residents back. Unfortunately, for now, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not safe to return so residents should remain where they are.SA国际影视传媒�

Alty noted she took a flight Tuesday over the fire breaks along YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 municipal boundaries and parts of the fire.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 one thing to see the fire area and the defensive work on maps, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 another thing to see it for real.SA国际影视传媒�

Alty said the fire is still classified as a threat to the city and crews are in the process of evaluating how much work it would take to eliminate that threat.

She said that will require a thorough ground assessment that may take days to complete.

A similar message came from Hay River, where a fire is burning about eight kilometres away.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are in good hands as we face this difficult week ahead,SA国际影视传媒� said Mayor Kandis Jameson.

Flames remained about eight kilometres from Hay River, on the south end of Great Slave Lake, and fire officials have said they expect hotter and drier conditions and shifting winds.

Jameson said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 heard from many residents of the community.

SA国际影视传媒淲e know that youSA国际影视传媒檝e had your livelihoods interrupted,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t is difficult to hear that you may not be able to come home for some time.

SA国际影视传媒淲ork is being done to make your return smooth and quick when it is safe to do so.SA国际影视传媒�

Another fire is burning about four kilometres from Fort Smith.

Deputy Mayor Jay McDonald said crews are also working to protect the community.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur first priority as a mayor and council is about getting through this as a community together and ensuring that all of our people can come home to Fort Smith as soon as possible,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淎t this time, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not safe for our citizens to return to Fort Smith and we really want to encourage those folks that are able to leave to please vacate the community.

SA国际影视传媒淧lease, be safe. And to the citizens of Fort Smith, please be patient.SA国际影视传媒�

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