Evacuation order changed to evacuation alert for N.W.T. community of Jean Marie River

An evacuation order put in place on Aug.13for the community of Jean Marie River, N.W.T,was lifted Thursday afternoon, meaningpeople who fled to Fort Simpson due to the wildfires can now return home.

An evacuation alert remains in place and residents should be ready to leave again on an hour's notice, according to the update.

"Residents are continually asked to follow the directions of emergency officials and their community government," the update reads.

The communityhowever isstill facing a telecommunications outageafter services were briefly restored earlier this week.

There is no access to internet, cell, or landline services.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs confirmedin an email to CBCthat the community's senior administrative officer has a satellite phone and the chief has access to Starlink.

If there is another evacuation order, the community would designate residents to go door-to-door to safely evacuate, the government said.

A fire was still burning ninekilometres southeast of Jean Marie River as of Thursday afternoon.

Hot, dry conditions continue to makefirefighting efforts challenging.