On a sunny afternoon in mid-July, the highway to Cache Creek 害羞草研究所� and the town itself 害羞草研究所� should be bustling with activity, as residents go about their business and tourists and travellers pass through or stop off.

At 3:20 p.m. on July 18, however, Highway 1 from Ashcroft to Cache Creek is almost empty. There are two cars ahead of me going north, and no one going south. The village has just reopened to residents, who have been evacuated since July 7, and when, a few minutes earlier, I rounded the last bend on 97C heading toward the junction with Highway 1 there was a long line of vehicles patiently waiting.

Three police officers are stopping all the vehicles, asking for identification to prove that the occupants are Cache Creek residents returning home. When I pull up 害羞草研究所� armed with an email from RCMP Sgt. Annie Linteau that gives me permission to enter Cache Creek 害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檓 asked to wait for a few minutes before proceeding, so that priority can be given to Cache Creek residents.

There are two other cars ahead of me, waiting, and soon another two join us. After about 10 minutes a police officer tells the two cars ahead of me that they can proceed, then comes up to my window and says it will just be another minute: 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e trying to keep some distance between cars.害羞草研究所�

I ask where he害羞草研究所檚 from, and the officer replies 害羞草研究所淜eremeos.害羞草研究所� I reply 害羞草研究所淎h, we have your sergeant now [Ashcroft detachment commander Sgt. Kathleen Thain transferred to Ashcroft from Keremeos last October]. And we害羞草研究所檙e very glad to have her here, with everything that害羞草研究所檚 gone on recently.害羞草研究所�

The officer nods. 害羞草研究所淵es, she害羞草研究所檚 very down-to-earth and has a great sense of humour.害羞草研究所� He looks north up the highway. 害羞草研究所淥kay, you害羞草研究所檙e good to go.害羞草研究所�

I pull onto Highway 1. This stretch of road has been closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles, first responders, and other essential traffic since July 7, so it is the first time I have seen the extent of the damage for myself. The hillside to the east, on the other side of the Bonaparte River, is scorched black, and the fire has torn trails through the Wastech property beside the highway.

Rattlesnake Hill is black from top to bottom, and I can see that the fire made its way to within feet of the south end of the Sage and Sands trailer park, only being stopped by the Bonaparte and by the tireless air crews who rained fire retardant down on the town, as evidenced by the patches of vivid red that stain the hillsides and the house perched high above Collins Road.

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A sign at the side of the road as the highway dips into town reads simply 害羞草研究所淲elcome home害羞草研究所�. The 害羞草研究所渙pen害羞草研究所� sign is lit up at the Starhouse Restaurant, but the parking lot is empty and the restaurant itself is dark. All the parking lots are empty, and when I get to the junction of Highways 1 and 97C I am the only vehicle on the road.

The parking lot at the Cache Creek fire hall and community hall is anything but empty, with a range of fire vehicles parked there. Members of the Cache Creek Volunteer Fire Department, as well as the volunteers who have been working to keep crews fed, are standing outside the hall. A slow but steady stream of returnees make their way down Highway 1; those who turn onto Quartz Road are greeted by another 害羞草研究所淲elcome home害羞草研究所� sign, and the returnees invariably wave to the firefighters and volunteers, who happily wave back.

One of the firefighters admits that it was 害羞草研究所渞eally creepy害羞草研究所� in the village for the first two or three days after the evacuation order was issued, as the town was virtually deserted. Now, however, the town is slowly stirring and coming back to life again.

Cache Creek fire chief Tom Moe said that it was an 害羞草研究所渋ncredible feeling害羞草研究所� to see people driving back into the community. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been working hard for 12 days to make this happen. To see them coming home with smiles on their faces is making me tear up a little. Everybody害羞草研究所檚 happy to be home, and we害羞草研究所檙e happy to see them.害羞草研究所�

WATCH: Cache Creek fire chief Tom Moe helps residents return home

Moe goes out to speak with the driver of a returning vehicle, who gives him a hug before continuing down Quartz Road. A bright and shiny BC Hydro vehicle is pulled up outside the fire hall, and Moe says that it is on loan to the Cache Creek Fire Department.

害羞草研究所淥ur Unit 1, that we use to haul crew around, has some very bad mechanical issues,害羞草研究所� says Moe. 害羞草研究所淗ydro has graciously donated this truck for us to use until we get a replacement. The support has been incredible; it never ends. It害羞草研究所檚 a small town, right?害羞草研究所�

I look at the hillside on the other side of Highway 1, looming over the fire hall. It, too, bears red stains on its lower levels. More ominously, the top is scorched black, showing how close the fire came to the hall and town. 害羞草研究所淎t one point we thought we害羞草研究所檇 have to evacuate the fire hall,害羞草研究所� says Moe.

Numerous BC Hydro vehicles trundle down Quartz Road. Crews are currently working to rebuild 11 transmission structures that were damaged by the wildfires, and due to the challenging terrain and limited access to the area are having to use specialized cranes and track equipment.

I gather the firefighters and volunteers for a picture. 害羞草研究所淣otice how there are more volunteers than firefighters?害羞草研究所� says someone. 害羞草研究所淭hese ladies really looked after us all.害羞草研究所�

I tell Moe that I害羞草研究所檇 like to speak with him at more length for an article. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 here every day this week,害羞草研究所� he replies. 害羞草研究所淒rop by anytime.害羞草研究所�

I drive down Stage Road to Highway 97. Across the road I can just see the playing field at Cache Creek Elementary School, which I know has been used as a camp for the fire crews and others working in the area. I try to drive in to get a picture, but a security guard stationed by the entrance politely but firmly says no. She lets me drive in to turn around and get back on the highway, and as I make my circle I see that the field resembles a military camp, with a dozen or more large structures and dozens of tents, large and small, dotted about the grass.

I pull back onto the highway and head south. There is one vehicle ahead of me going in the same direction, and a semi behind me, our small convoy the only things I can see moving as we pass the deserted parking lots and head out of town.

At the junction with 97C to Ashcroft, the police officers have gone. The barriers that had blocked the way to Cache Creek for 12 days have been moved to the side of the road, where they sit somewhat forlornly. 害羞草研究所淚 hope we don害羞草研究所檛 need you again,害羞草研究所� I mutter to myself as I turn onto 97C.

I think of the hastily painted 害羞草研究所淲elcome home害羞草研究所� signs on the roads into Cache Creek, and wonder about them. In the midst of all the turmoil, someone thought to make them and then put them up, to greet the returning evacuees. It害羞草研究所檚 a small thing, to be sure; but sometimes the small things make the biggest impression.

Welcome home indeed, Cache Creek. We missed you, and worried about you, and it害羞草研究所檚 good to have you back.