Jennifer Coleman has lived in and around Hay River in the Northwest Territories her whole life, but the highway into the community felt like a strange place as she and other wildfire evacuees were allowed to return there Saturday for the first time in over a month.
"It's almost like muscle memory when you drive that highway, it's almost like you shut your mind off and just drive, and you end up at home," Coleman said in an interview Sunday.The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Blair Warnock, who is perhaps Hay River's newest resident, got his first look at his new home on Saturday when he drove up from Edmonton with his spouse and a friend. Residents who are returning are being reminded by authorities that an evacuation alert remains in place, meaning they should be ready to leave again at short notice if fire conditions change.
For Chris Ahn, manager of The Rooster, a local convenience store, getting the business ready to open after a month of being closed again was a lot of work.
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