Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey described it as a "good news day" as he announced that some residents of Labrador City would be allowed to return to their homes after a wildfire forced evacuations last week.

Furey said early Saturday that essential workers would be allowed to return within the next 48 hours to prepare for the entire city to return once the evacuation order is lifted on Monday afternoon.

Furey stated, "We are breathing a sigh of relief here inside today as the fire situation is under control."

Those allowed to return to Labrador City over the weekend include healthcare workers, their families, and grocery store workers.

Furey mentioned that these groups would be allowed to return first as part of a "common-sense" goal to provide necessary goods and services to the remainder of the population.

According to Furey, there were nearly 200 healthcare workers when the evacuation order was issued in Labrador City.

Furey indicated that the fire near Labrador City, which is now under control, is still a class one fire - the lowest level on a scale up to six - with flames close to ground level.

Although some efforts are needed to fully extinguish the fire, favorable weather and the efforts of firefighters have helped to get the fire under control.

Furey said the risk to Labrador City is very low and there has been no damage to the city.

More than 7,000 residents of Labrador City were ordered to evacuate last week after a sudden shift in conditions from a fire that was once shy and moved toward the city.

Labrador City is the second community in Labrador to be evacuated due to wildfires this summer. Residents of Churchill Falls in central Labrador were forced to flee their homes on June 19. They were allowed to return after two weeks.

Crews have been extinguishing the fires from above with water bombers and helicopters, and the Premier says that ground firefighters are also working to contain the fire.