Rob Fraser

Residents of the Fort Nelson where thousands of people have been forced to leave due to wildfires are being warned against trying to return home early. Rob Fraser, mayor of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, which includes Fort Nelson, said that although officials are working hard to let residents come back before next Tuesday, “it is not currently safe. As we’re exercising our plan, if people jump the gun and come early and they have no permit, they will not be allowed through the checkpoint.” People trying to return early could create highway lineups that hinder health-care workers who need to get through, Fraser said. …The B.C. Wildfire Service said in its Friday update that the next chance of rain that can help the firefight will arrive Sunday, with up to six millimetres possible.

Additional coverage in the CBC News by Akshay Kulkarni: Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire evacuees allowed to return home starting Monday