Wildfire evacuation order for Cache Creek, B.C., to be lifted Tuesday

Residents from one of the first major population centres evacuated in B.C. during this historic wildfire season are being allowed to return home.

The evacuation order for the Village of Cache Creek will be lifted at 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, a full 11 days after it was issued.

"While the Ashcroft Fire remains very active and continues to grow and burn out of control, the imminent threat posed by [it]has currently diminished," said the Thompson-Nicola Regional District in a statement.

The Ashcroft-area fire, which was discovered on July 6, has grown to 52,600 hectares in size, destroying much of the AshcroftIndian Band reserve and the Boston Flats trailer home community. It has since spread north, prompting evacuation orders for Loon Lake and the Clinton area.

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"The people who have been evacuated toKamloopsare anxious to get back home. We recognize that," said Cache Creek Mayor John Ranta.

"We feel with the fire moving north and the relatively low winds that are expected over the next few days, it's as safe as can be."

Information packages will be provided to all Cache Creek residents, either electronically or when passing through RCMP checkpoints.

In addition, buses will depart for Cache Creek from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops at 3 p.m. on Tuesdayfor residents without transportation.