'No relief in sight' from N.W.T. wildfire near Hay River, Kt'odeeche First Nation

Firefighters are preparing for difficult days ahead as the wildfire next to Hay River and the Kt'odeeche First Nation reserve continues to burn out of control and "extremely dry and hot" weather is forecast for Thursday, says an N.W.T wildfire information officer.

"Fire activity is expected to be volatile. The winds are expected to push the fire from communities, however the level of fire activity may continue to challenge firefighting efforts," saidMike Westwick.

"Looking into Friday and the weekend, there is no relief in sight."

Meanwhile, Northwest Territories government officials say it's too early to estimate when evacuees may be able return home.

Westwick, along with Shane Thompson, the N.W.T.'s minister of Environment and Climate Change as well as Municipal and Community Affairs, and Jay Boast, the information officer for the territory's emergency management organization, gave an update Thursday morning on the Hay River and Kt'odeeche First Nation wildfire situation.

This was the territorial government's first briefing since the wildfireforced residents to evacuate last weekend.

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The wildfire, which started Sunday, hasgrown to 1,782 hectares at last count and had affected 15 buildings on Kt'odeeche First Nation. Fire crews have been battling it all week to protect the rest of the reserve and the town of Hay River.

As of Thursday, there had been no additional buildings lost on the reserve, and none in Hay River. Westwick said he couldn't confirm which structures had been damaged.

Eleven fire crews, multiple helicopters and air tankers, and heavy equipment are battling the blaze.

Thompson said the Northwest Territories isn't asking for support from other jurisdictions right now, but that federal and territorial governments have offered to help if necessary.

Both Kt'odeeche First Nation and Hay River remain under evacuation orders, with residents sheltering in Yellowknife, Enterprise and other communities.

Around 1,000 evacuees registered

The fire led to an emergency evacuation order for more than 3,500 people from the two communities late Sunday.

Around 1,000 evacuees have registered with the territorial government, and around 100 people are reportedly staying at the evacuation centre in Yellowknife, said Boast.

He pressed the point that the best place for evacuees to be right now is the capital, or in "a place where they have made arrangements for their own safety and comfort."

Yellowknife's Multiplex offers food, accommodation and other services, including guidance on income assistance in an emergency, said Boast.

Pets aren't allowed in the Multiplex, though. Boast said that's because they had to consider capacity at the centre and people with allergies.

Planning underway to find housing for people who lost homes

Boast said planning has begun to find housing for people who have lost homes, though that it was premature to comment on the potential solutions.

Thompson said the government has been talking to Kt'odeeche First Nation chief and council, and is working withHousing NWT and the federal government.

"We're looking within the town of Hay River. Ultimately we would like to be able to get people as close as possible to their home and family and friends," he said.

"It's a long process, but we're way ahead of the game. We started this probably about two days ago and there has been communications and lots of conversations."

'Much greater fire activity' Wednesday

Efforts to fight the fire on Wednesday continued to be a challenge, NWT Fire said in its previous update Wednesday afternoon.

"Extremely hot and dry weather today led to much greater fire activity with rising intensity and heavy smoke and at times ash being pushed by easterly winds towards the communities," the update said.

Air tankers and helicopters continued to pour water when visibility was good enough, and heavy equipment continued to build control lines by removing flammable material in such a way that it would guide the fire to wetlands and limit its growth toward Highway 5.