N.W.T. Fort Providence planning staged re-entry for eventual return

Meanwhile Jean Marie River ‘on pins and needles’ as evacuation alert persists, says former chief

While fire officials say it’s still not safe for evacuees from Fort Providence, N.W.T., to return home, the hamlet’s senior administrative officer has shared the plan for eventual return so residents know what to expect.

The community has been evacuated since Aug. 31 due to a large wildfire close by.

Re-entry plan

The re-entry plan, shared to social media this past weekend, includes three phases.

Once fire risk lowers, the first phase involves taking down structure protection equipment, like sprinklers, around the community.

Essential services will come next — reopening the health centre, restocking grocery shelves and ensuring there is fuel. The plan notes that areas that could pose a safety risk will be blocked off, including spots where trees could fall and where there is firefighting equipment.

Finally, once basic services have been restored, the evacuation order will be downgraded to an evacuation alert and residents will be welcomed home.

Buses to transport evacuees back to Fort Providence

When that happens, the hamlet plans to schedule buses from the Hay River evacuation centre to transport evacuees back to Fort Providence, and a welcome centre will be set up at the hamlet’s arena with information on what to expect after returning from a wildfire evacuation.

The fire is burning about 900 metres away from Fort Providence. Those passing the community on the highway say the fire is still evident.

The manager of the Co-op stores in Yellowknife and Hay River, Justin Nelson, said that on his latest trip between the two communities on Friday there was still a lot of firefighting going on near Fort Providence.