Members of the Northwest Territories legislature unanimously voted Monday to delay an election scheduled for October because of wildfires as the region saw a significant victory in the battle against a blaze that caused tens of thousands of people to flee Yellowknife.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unprecedented times,害羞草研究所� said Kevin O害羞草研究所橰eilly, member for Frame Lake. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not going to be possible for us to hold fair elections as originally planned.害羞草研究所�

O害羞草研究所橰eilly noted about 70 per cent of the territory害羞草研究所檚 population is now under evacuation, affecting most of its constituencies. Although fire officials said Monday the fire threatening the territorial capital is now being held, it害羞草研究所檚 still not yet safe for people to return.

The new date for the N.W.T. election will be Nov. 14. The territory had been scheduled to go to the polls on Oct. 3.

The members of the territorial legislature made the decision in an extraordinary session held in Inuvik instead of the territorial capital of Yellowknife, now evacuated by nearby wildfires. With most members attending via Zoom, they rushed through all three readings of the bill in a single sitting.

The legislature also pushed forward an extra $75-million special assessment for firefighting in the territory. The current N.W.T. firefighting budget is about $22 million.

Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek said the quadrupled firefighting budget should be enough, but cautioned that the $75-million request was based on calculations made 10 days ago.

害羞草研究所淭hings have changed significantly,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淗opefully, (the money) will get us through to the end of this fire period. Nothing about this fire season has been typical so far.害羞草研究所�

Wawzonek acknowledged in the legislature the unanticipated spending will have an effect on the territory害羞草研究所檚 finances. She said firefighting and other expenses as a result of the wildfires will use up the territory害羞草研究所檚 $34-million reserve.

害羞草研究所淭hat will be more than depleted,害羞草研究所� she said.

Meanwhile, a bit of rain and cooler temperatures over the weekend helped efforts to hold the wildfire located 17 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife, marking a major turn in the fight against the blaze that害羞草研究所檚 been burning since June.

Officials said the change in status means the fire is not expected to spread even as hot temperatures are forecast for the week.

害羞草研究所淭his is awesome news and we are all really, really happy to hear this,害羞草研究所� said Sheila Bassi-Kellett, Yellowknife害羞草研究所檚 city manager.

害羞草研究所淚t doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean the risk is gone yet.害羞草研究所�

City and territorial officials are coming up with a plan for people to return to the capital and other areas where fire risk has reduced.

People won害羞草研究所檛 be able to return immediately after the communities are declared safe from fire, said Jay Boast, a territorial government spokesperson. It will be a phased-in approach.

Essential personnel will be brought back to Yellowknife first, Boast said. That will ensure there are basic services, health care, groceries and food when it害羞草研究所檚 time for people to return.

害羞草研究所淟et us get out of the woods literally and figuratively and then we can start bringing you back in,害羞草研究所� Boast said.