‘Welcome home,’ B.C. mayor says to thousands of returning wildfire evacuees
WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — Thousands of people who rushed out of their homes as a wildfire neared Williams Lake are being allowed to return to the Interior British Columbia city, but with a warning that they could be forced to leave again.
Mayor Walt Cobb said he couldn’t be happier an evacuation order that went into effect on July 15 was being lifted on Thursday.
“The wildfires near our community are not 100 per cent contained and due to the changing weather conditions an evacuation could happen,” he said. “So welcome home and please be as orderly in your return as you were during the evacuation.”
Fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said winds that risked making the fires more aggressive didn’t end up having that effect, but as the conditions persist, concerns remain.