Photo: Nick Hanson

Flames near Williams Lake on July 7.

Several government groups are working towards the safe return home for residents currently on evacuation order in the Cariboo region.  

The District of 100 Mile House, City of Williams Lake, Cariboo Regional District and First Nations in the area have been collaborating with a number of support agencies such as the Red Cross, RCMP, Salvation Army, BC SPCA, and many others to ensure that communities around the south Cariboo are supported as their residents return.

100 Mile House is the community closest to getting services in place. Plans are underway to set up emergency healthcare, emergency 911 service, power, food services, waste management services and security for areas under evacuation order.

At this time it is unknown when residents can return as essential services must first be established. Further, re-entry is dependent on fire activity in the surrounding area.

"Our priority is to return residents to the area as soon as possible but only when it is safe to do so,"  said Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre.