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Prince George, B.C. – Now that the South Cariboo has had its evacuation order lifted, when will it be our turn?

That was on the minds of many Williams Lake residents at tonight’s evacuee town hall at the Canfor Theatre at UNBC.

The Cariboo Regional District lifted its evacuation order for the South Cariboo at 2 this afternoon.

“I’m just trying to see what’s going on, get the truth,” said Clint Walker, a logger and father of two from Williams Lake who arrived in Prince George last weekend following the evacuation there. “We’d really like to know when we can go home.”

“I miss the old place. I just don’t know what’s happened,” added Kelly Edinger, a gas station attendant, also from Williams Lake. “There’s so much news and you don’t know what’s true and what’s not. So, I’m hoping to get some clarification.”

Amanda Reynolds, a fire information officer with the BC Wildfire Service and currently based in Williams Lake, tried her best to help.

She said while progress is being made on the wildfires surrounding the central Cariboo city of 11,000, there is still concern about a forecasted “wind event” expected to hit the area tomorrow.

“I can’t estimate the time of return to Williams Lake,” added John Massier, vice-chair of the Cariboo Regional District. “It depends on the fire behaviour and the weather. But be rest assured, we’ll get you home as fast as we can.”

Massier also had some good news to share, noting that upon further investigation, 33 homes, not the 41 the CRD reported earlier this week, have been lost to wildfires in the Cariboo.

Along with the 33 lost homes, he said 66 outbuildings have also been destroyed.