More evacuees could return home if the weather cooperates

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KAMLOOPS (NEWS 1130) – Tens of thousands of British Colombians have been allowed to go home in recent days as crews make progress on wildfires burning in the Interior.

Emergency Management BC’s Chris Duffy says people have started to return to several communities, like 100 Mile House, Princeton, and Cache Creek.

He says officials are working hard to get everyone home.

“This is a live discussion every day and it’s informed by fire risk and certainly the local authorities and all the agencies involved want to get people home as soon as possible when it’s safe to do so and when there’s a plan for that orderly return.”

Those from Williams Lake may be able to go home as early as next week, but Fire Information Officer Navi Saini with the BC Wildfire Service says that will depend on fire activity and the weather.

“We are anticipating more winds in the Cariboo region on Thursday and Wednesday this week, combined with thunder showers, so it really will just be waiting to see what the weather forecast brings.”

There are an estimated 20,000 people still forced from their homes, down from 45,000 last week.

More than 150 wildfires continue to burn across the province, and include more than a dozen that were sparked by lightning and human activity over the past few days.

The Wildwood and White Lake fires are still largely uncontained.

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