Norman Wells (Aug 04/03) - Residents evacuated from Norman Wells a week and a half ago began returning to town Thursday as the threat from two nearby forest fires appears to have subsided.

Almost a hundred people -- mainly small children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems -- were evacuated July 24, ahead of a planned back burn the following day that inundated the town with a heavy blanket of smoke.

Lance Schmidt, manager of forests for the North Slave Region, said the leading edge of the largest fire heading towards town -- a 16,500-hectare blaze burning 10 kilometres northwest of town -- appears to be contained for the most part.

Another 2,000-hectare fire burning on a slope 22 kilometres southeast of the Wells is still burning but hasn't materialized into a real danger to the community.

The back burn, which joined up with the main fire later that night, was ignited less than a kilometre from a large fuel processing plant at the edge of town.

"It went as per plan," said Schmidt.

Fire crews received an added bonus last week when the exceedingly hot, dry weather turned to colder temperatures and rain.

Nonetheless, it may not be until after the snow flies that the fires will finally be extinguished.

"I'm certain that these things will (keep burning) unless they get a very significant amount of rain," said Schmidt. "Even then, I think these things will smoke a bit because they're just too deep in the duff layers."

Town SAO Alec Simpson said the evacuees are happy to be back. The biggest concern right now, he said, is airing out offices and homes from the smell of smoke.

"I know a lot of us that had air conditioning had to clean out our filters," said Simpson. "Certainly, that's been an activity lately."

Most people evacuated were sent to the Canadian Forces Forward Operating Location (FOL) in Inuvik. Simpson said the town is grateful for the support they received from the Delta community, housing and feeding residents while they were away from their homes.

They're also pleased with the job done by fire crews and volunteers from town who assisted in protecting homes and buildings.

They threw the crews a little appreciation party Thursday night, and offered them shirts reading "normanwells.com."

RWED is still tabulating the total cost of fighting the fire.