Evacuation centre downsizing, still open for wildfire evacuees

The TNRD says only 400 evacuees remain from this region, and shelter will still be available inside the Sandman Centre.

“There are still several evacuees from the Elephant Hill fire and the Martin Mountain fire in town, so it’s really business as usual for us at the reception centre. We will just scale back to accomodate the number of evacuees there,” said Rodrigue.

What will change is the outside with chairs and tents coming down on Saturday to make room for the remaining Williams Lake residents who will be boarding buses at noon to return home.

But there are residents like Bruce Thompson who don’t want to go back, worried about the smoke and fires nearby.

“My concern are air quality for people with medical issues, the elderly,” he said. “I’m also concerned with the evacuation order being lifted, as there are fires still burning all around Williams Lake. If we get back home, if we even make it back that far, I’m concerned we’ll be turned and sent right back.”

Thompson feels, though, he has to go back, told he only has two more days at the Sandman Centre.

“That made me quite angry. People with medical issues should be allowed, if not to stay here, at least to have accomodations provided until air quality is proper in Williams Lake,” he noted.

The Salvation Army, which has been camped out at the Sandman Centre for more than two weeks, are off to Williams Lake to help with the transition there.

Volunteers from Abbotsford and Lethbridge have been working tirelessly to provide meals for evacuees.

“They’re just so appreciative that we’re here to help them out,” said Don Armstrong, who is head of emergency services for the Salvation Army. “They talk about their homes and their things. They know they’re all right, but they just are so appreciative of the Salvation Army being here.”

The evacuees appreciate what the Kamloops community has done for them and will continue to do as the fire season drags on.

by Chad Klassen

Evacuation centre downsizing, still open for wildfire evacuees

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