Nearly 3,000 people forced to flee from forest fires near Kamloops have been allowed to return home, but the fires are growing and the danger remains severe.

But residents in the B.C. communities of Rayleigh and Heffley Creek must stay on alert, ready to leave should the fire threat return.

It was a bit of good news, though not nearly enough. Another 7,000 people from communities throughout the South Thompson are waiting in Kamloops, Vernon and Salmon Arm for permission to return to their homes.

But the size of the fires in the region is growing, not shrinking.

"We're not expecting things to change. We're in this for the long haul. It's going to be a serious fight," said Kevin Metuga of the B.C. fire office.

The three wildfires north of Kamloops the McLure, Strawberry Hill and Cedar Hill fires have destroyed 80 homes and forced about 10,000 people from their homes in the past few days.

Hotels in Kamloops are jammed with evacuees, who will likely remain there for the foreseeable future.

The fire near the town of McLure is the largest in the region, covering about 83 square kilometres. It has gutted scores of homes in communities such as Louis Creek. Fire boss Dennis Gaudry says it's growing larger by the hour.

"If we get winds in excess of 15 km/h and up to 20 km/h, we see extreme fire behaviour," he said.

The forecast for the Thompson-Nicola District is for continuing dry, hot weather. There are similar predictions for almost all of the B.C. Interior.

Almost 2,000 firefighters and Canadian soldiers are battling the 306 fires reported in British Columbia. They cover about 400 square kilometres. Cost of the firefighting has been estimated at $2.5 million a day.

The town of Barierre was surrounded by fire, but only lost a few homes on the outskirts.

Other communities weren't so lucky. On the highway leading north from Kamloops, fires reduced a sawmill and five neighbouring houses to ash.

Insurance will help some people rebuild their homes, and the province is asking Ottawa to provide money for reconstruction.