Canadians return home as wildfires diminish

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- About 6,000 people who were forced to flee their homes because of wildfires in southern British Columbia are returning home.

Firefighters have made progress in containing two of three forest fires covering about 2,900 acres of land near West Kelowna, 250 miles east of Vancouver. The fires were sparked over the weekend.

Fire information officer Elise Riedlinger said by Tuesday afternoon, crews had contained 60 percent of a blaze raging behind the Glenrosa subdivision, but the fire was still engulfing 300 hectares (750 acres).

Fire crews have contained a second fire burning at the nearby Rose Valley Reservoir by 10 percent. The third fire at Terrace Mountain has not been contained.

Officials say a majority of evacuation orders were rescinded and residents are returning home.