More than 50,000 Northern California residents who were forced to abandon their homes amid raging wildfires have been allowed to return.
As state officials worked on plans to repopulate other evacuated areas, cooler weather and higher humidity helped 15,600 firefighters gain ground, staving off some of the largest fires in recent state history.
Over the past 24 hours, evacuation orders for more than 20,000 Californians were lifted in both San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris Clark told reporters in a news conference on Thursday that it still could be weeks before an all-clear in harder-hit communities and that evacuees should remain vigilant.
“Just because you’re going back to an area doesn’t necessarily mean the fire threat is over,” he warned.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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