The mayor of Yellowknife says it害羞草研究所檚 not safe for residents to go home to the territorial capital, but notes city officials are working on a return plan as a fire continues to burn about 15 kilometres away.

Most of the residents in the city of 20,000 evacuated by air or road late last week to cities and towns as far south as Calgary and as far east as Winnipeg.

害羞草研究所淥f course, the question that everyone wants to know is when can we come home?害羞草研究所� Rebecca Alty told reporters at a briefing Tuesday evening.

The return plan, she said, 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� said Alty.

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�

Alty noted she took a flight Tuesday over the fire breaks along Yellowknife害羞草研究所檚 municipal boundaries and parts of the fire.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 one thing to see the fire area and the defensive work on maps, but it害羞草研究所檚 another thing to see it for real.害羞草研究所�

Alty said the fire is still classified as a threat to the city and crews are in the process of evaluating how much work it would take to eliminate that threat.

She said that will require a thorough ground assessment that may take days to complete.

A similar message came from Hay River, where a fire is burning about eight kilometres away.

害羞草研究所淲e are in good hands as we face this difficult week ahead,害羞草研究所� said Mayor Kandis Jameson.

Flames remained about eight kilometres from Hay River, on the south end of Great Slave Lake, and fire officials have said they expect hotter and drier conditions and shifting winds.

Jameson said she害羞草研究所檚 heard from many residents of the community.

害羞草研究所淲e know that you害羞草研究所檝e had your livelihoods interrupted,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t is difficult to hear that you may not be able to come home for some time.

害羞草研究所淲ork is being done to make your return smooth and quick when it is safe to do so.害羞草研究所�

Another fire is burning about four kilometres from Fort Smith.

Deputy Mayor Jay McDonald said crews are also working to protect the community.

害羞草研究所淥ur first priority as a mayor and council is about getting through this as a community together and ensuring that all of our people can come home to Fort Smith as soon as possible,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淎t this time, it害羞草研究所檚 not safe for our citizens to return to Fort Smith and we really want to encourage those folks that are able to leave to please vacate the community.

害羞草研究所淧lease, be safe. And to the citizens of Fort Smith, please be patient.害羞草研究所�

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