More than 2,000 forest fires have been sparked in B.C. this year, stretching firefighting resources and forcing thousands of evacuations. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

The forest fire situation in B.C. continues to improve as cool weather and rain quench the flames of hundreds of blazes once burning across the province.

About 1,500 people on the northwest shore of Okanagan Lake will get to return home Wednesday after firefighters managed to contain about 75 per cent of the 91-square-kilometre Terrace Mountain fire in the southern Interior.

Evacuation orders have also been rescinded for residents of Pemberton Meadows in the southwest region of the province as forestry crews get the upper hand on two wildfires burning nearby.

But despite rain and cooler weather, evacuation orders are still in place for several hundred residents of Seton Portage east of Pemberton and for people affected by two wildfires burning south and northwest of Lillooet.

Southeastern alerts lifted

The last evacuation alert in southeast B.C. has been lifted after the rain and cool temperatures helped crews battling the Galena Bay fire, which is now 40 per cent contained.

Emergency services co-ordinator Terry Warren said the alert covered a stretch of highway between Nakusp and Revelstoke.

"We had some pretty scary days here — lots of wind, smoke and fire — but it's looking good here now. It might get smoky but it's looking favourable and there is no more alert," Warren said.

That is good news for the tourism industry in particular. The Galena Bay fire put the popular Nakusp hot springs resort on alert, sharply reducing local business revenue.

Fire danger ratings drop

The fire danger rating for much of B.C. is now low or moderate, compared with high or extreme less than two weeks ago. A campfire bans is still in place but fire information officer Gwen Eamer said that's being reviewed each day.

"The situation in the southeast has improved significantly. We've had precipitation and haven't seen growth in over a week," Eamer said.

B.C. has generally had a devastating fire season, with more than 2,000 blazes detected across the province so far.