Prince George, B.C. – There is now a more accurate number  of  how many people have been  forced from their homes  because of the wildfires.

Assistant Deputy Minister of  Emergency Management  B.C. ,  Robert Turner,  says  45,806  people  were  forced  out  from a number of communities  and  31,935 have registered with Red Cross.   He says  84% of all who  registered  will  have received financial assistance by the end of today.

The focus at the moment is on those who are returning to their homes in Cache Creek.  The evacuation  order for that community   will be lifted as of  3 p,m today.    While being allowed to  return,   that doesn’t  mean there is no  threat.  The evacuation alert remains in place and residents may be  told to leave again should  the  flames  once again threaten that community.

Turner  says the Red Cross will be on site in Cache Creek tomorrow to provide  residents with  cleaning  kits and to provide financial assistance for  those residents.

That return  will  also  see  an enhanced police presence in Cache Creek  with  road checks.   RCMP Sergeant Annie Linteau says  the RCMP  will be working with all partner  agencies to ensure the return ” is as smooth as possible.”     “Residents can expect to see  representatives from  the Ministry of Transportation and the Commercial Vehicle enforcement at the Big Sky turn off.   and there Cache Creek residents will be given priority for their return  and the RCMP will be asking for identification  at check points.”  She says  vehicles will  be required to queue up   40 to 50 at a time to “facilitate an organized re-entry to Cache Creek.”

Chief Information Officer  with BC Wildfire Service,  Kevin Skrepnek  says there are 155  fires  burning in the Province,   nine new  fires  were sparked  yesterday.

Here is the latest information on the  wildfires:

• Gustafsen:  5,700 hectares,   35% contained
• Ashcroft:  Now  referring to it as the Elephant Hill  fire  52,600 hectares  30%contained   evacuation order for  Cache Creek   is being rescinded, but  the evacuation alert  remains in place
• Hanceville: 98,000  hectares    is the largest fire in  the  province
• Soda Creek:  280 hectares,   10% contained,     is located about 17 kms north of  Williams Lake Airport
• White Lake :   12,000 hectares,  10 %  contained,  ( is about  5-7 kms north west  of Williams Lake)
• Wildwood :  13,000 hectares,   20% contained