Okanagan communities rally around Bald Range wildfire evacuees

Many people who were forced to leave their homes due to the Bald Range wildfire faced immediate challenges in finding basic necessities such as a place to sleep and something to eat. According to Global News, over 18,000 people were evacuated from their homes.

As evacuees arrived in communities across the Okanagan, they were met with support from hundreds of volunteers. Organizations, including Mamas for Mamas, put out a call for help and volunteers responded. Some vendors who had planned to sell at the cancelled Peach Festival instead donated their food to evacuees. Volunteers also helped provide clothing, toiletries, and other basic necessities, with free showers, hair washing, and meals available at various locations.

However, finding a place to stay proved to be a more difficult need to fill for evacuees. Global News reported that despite the efforts of volunteers and organizations, this challenge persisted.

Brief written by urgent.news from Global News, Global News — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.