Wildfires threatening communities in the Northwest Territories were kept at bay Wednesday as politicians continued grappling with 害羞草研究所渁stronomical害羞草研究所� costs of fighting the blazes and how to eventually get people home.

The N.W.T. government said in its wildfire update that fires encroaching on the capital of Yellowknife, along with the communities of Hay River and Fort Smith, remained a threat but had not moved closer.

Fires were within 15 kilometres of Yellowknife, within eight kilometres of the hub city of Hay River and four kilometres from Fort Smith on the Alberta boundary.

Crews continued to water bomb the fires and dig barriers down to the forest害羞草研究所檚 dirt floor to rob the fires of fuel.

There were 237 active fires menacing the region. More than two-thirds of the 45,000-plus residents who call the N.W.T. home are living in evacuation centres and hotels as far away as Calgary and Winnipeg. They left by plane or by driving hundreds of kilometres to safety.

The 20,000 residents of Yellowknife were ordered out a week ago while other communities were evacuated before that.

In Charlottetown, federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters the government is ready to step in and help out.

害羞草研究所淭here are disaster relief programs in place that support expenditures for a province and territory and provide support for the people who are evacuated,害羞草研究所� said Freeland.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e very happy to work with the government, with the leadership of the Northwest Territories on what might be some extraordinary expenses.

害羞草研究所淭he important thing is for people to be safe today. And then the important thing is for people to be able to rebuild their lives.害羞草研究所�

On Tuesday night, N.W.T. Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek said they are still crunching numbers and crafting policy on the unprecedented disaster and evacuation. She said the legislative assembly is planning to meet Monday to move ahead formally on next steps.

害羞草研究所淭he fire costs, the fire suppression costs, are astronomical,害羞草研究所� said Wawzonek.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to have to figure this out.

害羞草研究所淧eople won害羞草研究所檛 be able to get back if they don害羞草研究所檛 have some funding in many cases.害羞草研究所�

She said the government is eyeing different reimbursement options, given that the evacuees face different circumstances.

害羞草研究所淪ome may be able to use their insurance, some don害羞草研究所檛 have insurance,害羞草研究所� Wawzonek said. 害羞草研究所淲e also want to be mindful (of) our evacuation costs 害羞草研究所� we would ideally like to fit them within the Federal Disaster Assistance Program.害羞草研究所�

On Monday, the territorial government announced that residents 17 and older who are out of work for a week or more due to the fires are to receive a one-time payment of $750, with applications being processed starting this week.

In a statement, The United Way said it has distributed more than $400,000 in relief aid for the N.W.T. fires.

Along with evacuation centres, the Alberta government has offered free camping sites to evacuees for up to 10 consecutive nights.

Also Tuesday, Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty said a return date, which is still up in the air, has two parts.

害羞草研究所淥ne is fire safety, and two is ensuring essential services are back up and operational,害羞草研究所� Alty said.

害羞草研究所淲e started our planning on Friday and we害羞草研究所檒l continue working on it until we can welcome residents back. Unfortunately, for now, it害羞草研究所檚 not safe to return, so residents should remain where they are.害羞草研究所�

She added that the evacuations have caused financial hardship for many.

害羞草研究所淒isaster financial assistance is definitely needed in our territory, and council continues to urge the federal and territorial government to work together to provide assistance.害羞草研究所�

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