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More than 192,742 acres have burned in the Canadian province since April 1.
By Perron Goodyear –
Wide patches of the forest in the British Columbia Interior are burning after a lightning storm ignited dry brush from weeks of hot summer weather. With more than 14,000 people already evacuated, Salvation Army emergency response teams continue to offer support to several communities impacted by the fires.
In Williams Lake, a Salvation Army response team provided 1,750 meals over the weekend. Another team in Prince George partnered with local restaurants to distribute over 450 meals as thousands of evacuees continue to enter the city. In Kamloops, a Salvation Army team assisted an estimated 3,500 evacuees from Cache Creek, offering water and emotional support.
“As wildfires rage in British Columbia’s interior, The Salvation Army’s Emergency and Disaster Services [are] on alert to provide fast, efficient service to first responders and those impacted by the disaster,” said Quebec Divisional Commander, Lt. Colonel Brian Venables. “The Salvation Army’s established and well-rehearsed emergency protocol allows the organization to offer practical support such as food and water, as well as emotional and spiritual care.”
An incident command team in Abbotsford is coordinating the province-wide response to the disaster and dispatching staff, volunteers, supplies and trucks to evacuation centers across B.C.
“It is our mission to offer hope and practical support in the midst of challenging circumstances,” said Perron Goodyear, Territorial Emergency Disaster Services Director. “We are grateful for all who partner with us to make a difference in communities across the country and in the lives of people impacted by disaster.”
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