Workers of essential services such as grocery stores, banks and pharmacies are heading back into the Town of Slave to prepare as the rest of evacuated residents are expected to arrive in the next day.

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in the Town of Slave Lake has determined that critical safety criteria have been met and a phased re-entry into the community can get started.

Officials say the re-entry will be supported by a traffic plan to return residents to the community in stages depending on the location of their home.

Residents who live north of the C.N. railroad tracks, including the Sawridge First Nation and the M.D. of Lesser Slave River will be permitted to return starting at 8 a.m. Friday. All other residents can return starting at 1 p.m. 

The mayor told CTV News only residents with homes still standing are being let in. Those with destroyed homes cannot return to town at this point. Officials say those who do not have a home to return to should remain in their current accommodations and contact 780-849-8681 to discuss their housing needs and options.

"I'm asking for your continued patience. For now, remain in your temporary accommodations," said Mayor of Slave Lake Karina Pillay-Kinnee.

Officials told media there is no longer a threat of wildfires re-starting in Slave Lake, Sawridge or the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River.

Vital services such as power, natural gas, and phone have been restored. Water services have been restored but a boil water advisory is still in effect.

Staffing of essential services in town was still underway Thursday afternoon.

The ER at the local hospital is already up and running. Grocery store staff, pharmacy workers, and bank employees are now making their return with the hope of opening the doors on Friday.

"They are stocking shelves, they are sanitizing the cooler...just getting ready to open up the store," said grocery store owner Tim Halliday.

Crews have managed to fence in all areas in town that are considered to be dangerous. Officials are asking residents to stay away from those areas.

And as people begin to make their return to town, they are being invited to visit the local school where a community social centre has been set up.

The centre will act as a one-stop location for information and services that residents will need during and after their return to the community. Services include counselling, childcare and housing/insurance information.

Residents who are unable to attend in person can call the centre at 780-849-8175.

At last word, 40 fires are reported to be still burning across the province, with three that are out of control. To date, more than 329,000 hecatres have burned.

A day ago, B.C. sent another 70 firefighters to help Alberta battle the wildfires, which marks B.C.'s largest-single deployment of resources to another province.

With files from Bill Fortier