(as of 8:30 p.m.)
The City of Vernon has continued to receive and assist residents from neighbouring Okanagan communities who have been evacuated due to a number of wildfires that are now burning throughout the Central Okanagan region.
The Vernon Reception Centre is located at Kal Tire Place Arena (3445 43rd Avenue, Vernon, BC).
The Reception Centre is now closed for the day and will reopen at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday).
For those who have been evacuated, and for community members looking for updates on the fire situation in the Okanagan and the rest of BC, the City offers the following reminders:
- All evacuees should register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/
- Hotel accommodations are very limited within the region. If evacuees are able to stay with family or friends, please do so.
- The Province of B.C. ESS program is available for residents who have been evacuated from their primary residence only. Tourists and visitors to the area who have been evacuated are asked to return home, if possible, or find their own alternative accommodation.
- For up-to-date road information, check DriveBC.ca.
For more information and updates regarding the Central Okanagan wildfires and their associated Evacuation Orders and Alerts, please visit the following websites:
- Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (CORD): cordemergency.ca
- BC Wildfire Service wildfire map: bcwildfire.ca
A series of frequently asked questions about Vernon’s ESS Reception Centre and the City’s response to this emergency situation is available at www.vernon.ca/essinformation.
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