Jennifer Coleman has lived in and around Hay River in the Northwest Territories her whole life, but the highway into the community felt like a strange place as she and other wildfire evacuees were allowed to return there Saturday for the first time in over a month.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 almost like muscle memory when you drive that highway, it害羞草研究所檚 almost like you shut your mind off and just drive, and you end up at home,害羞草研究所� Coleman said in an interview Sunday.

害羞草研究所淚t wasn害羞草研究所檛 like that coming up. I didn害羞草研究所檛 recognize anything. It was quite hard actually.害羞草研究所�

Coleman and her husband had been staying in Peace River, Alta., since Hay River, as well as the nearby hamlet of Enterprise and K害羞草研究所檃tl害羞草研究所檕deeche First Nation, were evacuated on Aug. 13. They made the six-hour drive home Saturday in separate vehicles when the evacuation order was finally lifted at 9 a.m.

She had a podcast playing but turned it down. From the turnoff to Enterprise to about 10 kilometres outside of Hay River, fire had changed the landscape.

害羞草研究所淚t was a different land,害羞草研究所� Coleman said. 害羞草研究所淚t was an emotional drive.害羞草研究所�

The Town of Hay River posted pics to social media on Sunday of flights arriving at its airport with returning evacuees, and Mayor Kandis Jameson said in a message that it will take a while for things to return to normal.

害羞草研究所淲e are excited to welcome everyone home from such a long time away,害羞草研究所� Jameson said, thanking firefighters 害羞草研究所渢hat have given us a place to return to.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淧lease stay safe, give our fire crews room to do their work and look out for each other.害羞草研究所�

Enterprise residents remain evacuated due to the fire risk. K害羞草研究所檃tl害羞草研究所檕deeche First Nation residents were allowed back Sunday.

Blair Warnock, who is perhaps Hay River害羞草研究所檚 newest resident, got his first look at his new home on Saturday when he drove up from Edmonton with his spouse and a friend.

He got hired as a parts manager at a car dealership in Hay River before everyone had to leave, and accepted a lease for a home on the day the evacuation order was made.

害羞草研究所淪o we hadn害羞草研究所檛 even had a chance to go up to sign the lease and get the keys and all that,害羞草研究所� explained Warnock, who was driving back to Edmonton Sunday to bring up a second carload.

害羞草研究所淚t was my first time actually being in town.害羞草研究所�

The drive to Hay River was smoky, Warnock said, particularly when they crossed from Alberta into N.W.T. On Saturday night near Enterprise, he said he could see flareups in the distance.

In Hay River, though, Warnock said the fire hadn害羞草研究所檛 touched anything.

害羞草研究所淟ast night was actually clear in town. We saw stars and the northern lights,害羞草研究所� Warnock said.

Residents who are returning are being reminded by authorities that an evacuation alert remains in place, meaning they should be ready to leave again at short notice if fire conditions change.

Mayor Jameson encouraged her community to support friends, neighbours and local businesses that have lost work and business due to the evacuation.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a good opportunity to go out and reconnect at coffee shops, restaurants or your favourite stores. I害羞草研究所檓 looking forward to meeting you, as you come home,害羞草研究所� she said in her social media post Saturday.

For Chris Ahn, manager of The Rooster, a local convenience store, getting the business ready to open after a month of being closed again was a lot of work.

He was allowed to return early before other evacuees to get the store ready for when the general evacuation lifted, but wasn害羞草研究所檛 quite ready to open Saturday, hoping instead to be open limited hours on Sunday.

害羞草研究所淲e need to clean inside and pick out all the the expired stuff and dump it, all the produce,害羞草研究所� Ahn said from the store on Saturday.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been two days but I didn害羞草研究所檛 finish it.害羞草研究所�

Schools in Hay River won害羞草研究所檛 be resuming regular classes until Sept. 25, and they won害羞草研究所檛 resume in K害羞草研究所檃tl害羞草研究所檕deeche until Sept. 27.

NWT Fire warned in an update Sunday that residents might still see plumes of smoke near the community but it doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean it isn害羞草研究所檛 safe, noting a lot of work has been done to protect the town.

Coleman said she害羞草研究所檚 ready to flee if it gets dangerous again.

害羞草研究所淲e are making sure our vehicles are full of gas, just in case,害羞草研究所� she said.

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