100 Mile House, B.C. – The evacuation alert for 100 Mile House may have been lifted over the weekend but Mayor Mitch Campsall says they’re nowhere near out of the woods yet.

“There’s forest fires all around us,” he says. “We’ve got the Elephant Hill fire coming at us as well, so we’re not even close to being out of the woods yet. So far, we’re okay but we’re watching it. My suggestion to people is to make sure you’re go bag is packed and ready to go.”

100 Mile House Mayor Mitch Campsall in Prince George last month – photo 250News

Campsall says Mother Nature will decide what happens next.

“It all depends on where the winds blow on whether we’re going to be dealing with that fire (Elephant Hill) or not.”

(The Elephant Hill fire forced the evacuation of Clinton and 70 Mile House over the weekend.)

In the meantime, he estimates about “99 per cent” of 100 Mile residents have returned home and businesses are back up and running but notes senior levels of government are still going to have to help out when all is said and done.

“The tourism industry has just been devastated. Not hurt, devastated this year,” says Campsall.

“The federal government is going to have to look at the fact – the Province too – that in the Cariboo we’re lucky if we get four months out of the tourism season. We’re not like the Coast, so it’s a big difference. Devastation is not the word for it.”

He also has the following message for residents of Prince George who lent a helping hand to South Cariboo residents while evacuated.

“We sure appreciate what Prince George did for our community and our surrounding area. All I can say if man, you guys did an unbelievably great job and from my community to your community, thank you very much.”