Kandis Jameson

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got an up-close look at the burned-out remains of buildings and vehicles Wednesday as he toured parts of the Northwest Territories ravaged by a record wildfire season.

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 on Saturday for the first time in over a month.

A wildfire official says the town of Hay River will be at risk over the next few days with strong winds and high temperatures making a dangerous situation even worse.

The mayor of Yellowknife says it's not safe for residents to go home to the territorial capital, but notes city officials are working on a return plan as a fire continues to burn about 15 kilometres away.

Nine fires are actively burning in the N.W.T., including an out-of-control wildfire about 32 square kilometres in size on the K'atl'odeeche First Nation that is believed to have been human-caused.