It is expected that the break given to the firefighters defending the capital of the Northwest Territories will end today after starting the weekend due to rainy weather, as temperatures are expected to rise into the twenties.

Mike Westwick, a wildland fire information officer, stated during a press conference on Saturday evening that "the fire has taken a nap" and that it "will wake up" again as temperatures rise today.

The fire, which led to the evacuation of all 20,000 residents of Yellowknife, remained about 15 kilometers from the community yesterday.
Health Minister Julie Green said at the press conference that the ramping up of services at the city hospital has been completed, with the emergency department remaining open for firefighters and other essential workers.

Sadly, Green says that one patient has died while preparations were underway for transport out of the city, which she says was an "expected death" although she did not provide details due to confidentiality concerns.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Shane Thompson stated that over the past week, 68 percent of the territory's residents have been evacuated due to the fires, with evacuation orders issued for seven other communities in the Northwest Territories, forcing thousands of other people to leave their homes.

Many of the evacuees traveled to different areas of Alberta, and up to 3,000 people were transported to Manitoba.