A firefighter hoses down hotspots in the Central Interior of B.C. (CBC)

Cooler weather and rain across much of British Columbia on the weekend have calmed wildfires that had forced hundreds from their homes, allowing officials to lift or downgrade many evacuation orders.

While 232 forest fires are still burning throughout the province, the number of new fires has been decreasing daily thanks to conditions that are colder and wetter, with less gusty winds.

About 2,800 firefighters are focused more on controlling creeping ground fires than flames racing across the tops of trees.

But provincial fire officer Gwen Eamer says a few more days of sunshine could bring on another critical situation, similar to the middle of last week.

Thirty-six per cent of the province is still at high or extreme risk of wildfires, and upwards of 70 per cent of the province still remains under campfire bans.

Largest fires in Fraser-Fort George, Bulkley-Nechako

The largest fires still burning in the province are at the Pelican Lake fire group in the Fraser-Fort George region, and the Binta Lake fire in the Bulkley-Nechako region. Evacuation orders remain in place in those areas.

The Binta Lake fire, near Burns Lake west of Prince George, is an estimated 40,000 hectares and only 20 per cent contained.

The group of fires making up the Pelican Lake fire, southwest of Prince George, cover an estimated 35,000 hectares and are only 20 per cent contained.