By Jill Sperling

Wildfire relief efforts continue as evacuees return home

Aug 23, 2017 | 5:05 PM

KAMLOOPS — Fewer evacuees are flowing in and out of the Emergency Reception Centre in Kamloops, and wildfire relief efforts are shifting to help returning residents of communities affected by fires.

“I just drove past the evacuation centre today, and it looks like they’re just really winding down,” said United Way Thompson Nicola Cariboo Executive Director Danalee Baker. “So, as people are heading home that need and that focus needs to go to those communities.” 

The United Way is one of the agencies providing support to those impacted by the wildfires, and their relief fund has just grown by $41,000, thanks to a donation from the United Steelworkers. 

“So excited, it’s so generous,” Baker said. “You know, the Steelworkers have been partners of ours for decades. Nationally, we are partners with United Ways all across Canada. This is just a fantastic way to continue our partnership and work together to rebuild and help people recover from this wildfire disaster.”

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Some communities have experienced more devastation than others. In Loon Lake the fire hall burned to the ground. 

A fundraising barbecue in Clinton this weekend will raise money to rebuild the fire hall. 

I don’t think there’s a fire hall in British Columbia that doesn’t have either a USW member on it, a volunteer fire department that doesn’t have a USW member on it, either active or retired,” said president of United Steelworkers Local 1-417 Marty Gibbons. “They do great work and anything we can do to help them get back on their feet, we want to be there.”

The Red Cross has been providing resources to emergency reception centres and financial assistance to wildfire evacuees. Now, the agency is rolling out programs for communities. 

“We see the Support for Small Business program, which asks small business to apply and see if they’re eligible for a $1,500 one-time financial assistance,” said Red Cross spokesperson Angela Hill. 

Thanks to provincial funding the Red Cross also has $5 million set aside for charities and organizations already working to provie disaster relief in affected communities. 

Clean up kits are being distributed to returning residents, who will also receive $300 as re-entry assistance. 

The Red Cross is asking for patience as funds are distributed.

“It’s one of those things where, in a case where we’re helping 25,000 registered households we’re really trying to get financial aid to everyone who needs it as quickly as possible,” Hill said, “and through that that is the initial $600 for all the people who were evacuated, for those who were evacuated for 14 or more consecutive days there’s that second amount, and then that $300 re-entry for people going home, and you know we are working to get it to people as quickly as we can.”