Emergency Management Organization Pauses Repatriation of Most Essential Personnel to Yellowknife

Press Release

Yellowknife, NT (August 30, 2023) – High winds are anticipated to accelerate fires along Highway 1 from Friday, September 1 to Sunday, September 3. Highway 1 is currently open to essential travel but subject to closure without warning as visibility is poor. Due to the severe weather event, it is anticipated that Highway 1 will close to all traffic from Friday, September 1, to Sunday, September 3.

Based on these conditions, the Emergency Management Organization has directed that repatriation of essential workers, except healthcare-related staff identified through the Department of Health and Social Services and Health and Social Services Authorities, will
be paused effective immediately.

Despite the closure of the highway, the repatriation of essential health staff (by air) will continue during this time. This is important to allow time for safe resumption of services. This pause in phase 3 of the re-entry process is driven by the need to prioritize the safety of
responders and essential staff working hard to prepare Yellowknife to welcome evacuees home.

The fire outside Yellowknife continues to be held. The fire risk to the community itself is decreased. This pause in the return of essential personnel is directly related to the wildfire risks associated with returning by road.

For more information, contact:

Jay Boast
Information Officer
Government of the Northwest Territories
jay_boast@gov.nt.ca

City of Yellowknife Communications
communications@yellowknife.ca

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