Feds approve assistance to help B.C. fire evacuees with shelter

As wildfires continue to ravage parts of British Columbia, the federal government has approved assistance to provide shelter and accommodations for those displaced by the blazes. Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski tasked federal officials to collaborate with the province to ensure support reaches those most in need.

The response is seen as welcome news, particularly for evacuees at a Penticton evacuation center who have been sleeping in their vehicles following a 14-hour line for assistance. Allan Jennens, who spent 14 hours in line, expressed relief that his family's home remained intact, while acknowledging others may not be as fortunate.

Over 10,000 homes are under evacuation orders in affected regions, with more than 3,200 under alerts stretching from Peachland to Highway 97C and the Penticton Indian Band. Tom Joseph, who evacuated from Summerland, learned his home survived but witnessed garages burning nearby. Joanne Liboiron, who evacuated at 1:30 a.m., recounted the fear of the situation.

The Bald Range fire, which exploded to over 100 square kilometers, prompted thousands to evacuate Summerland and Peachland, with about 1,200 to 1,500 residents evacuating and around 1,000 under an evacuation alert. B.C. Premier David Eby declared a state of emergency, describing the fire as a significant shift in the province's wildfire situation.

Evacuees faced long waits at the Penticton center, with some expressing concerns over the efficiency of the system, while B.C. Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene acknowledged the large response and recommended registering online.