The Province is working with local partners in the Penticton area to support people evacuated because of the Bald Range wildfire.
To date, the Province has booked more than 1,000 hotel rooms in Penticton, Kelowna and West Kelowna, which are available for evacuees.
Group lodging is also available in communities throughout the Okanagan with nearly 1,000 beds set up.
Those needing assistance to find an available hotel room or a referral to group lodging are encouraged to visit a reception centre at:
- Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, 273 Power St., Penticton
- Westbank Lions Community Hall, 2466 Main St., West Kelowna
The Province is working with the tourism and hospitality sector, the federal government and other partners to secure additional accommodation and is booking more hotel rooms as they become available, thanks to people changing their travel plans to support evacuees.
Anyone who is evacuated and able to stay with friends and family are encouraged to do so.
Over the weekend, the BC Evacuee Helpline had a record number of calls from evacuees needing support.
ServiceBC, which operates the BC Evacuee Helpline, has increased staff capacity twenty-fold to ensure that all evacuees are receiving support as quickly as possible.
This includes staff to support with BC Services Card identity verification so that evacuees can register for Emergency Support Services (ESS) online.
Mobile ServiceBC Centre units have been deployed to Penticton and Kelowna to further support with identity verification.
People can reach the BC Evacuee Helpline at 1-800-387-4258.
To register with Emergency Support Services, visit here.
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