Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach is in Burns Lake Thursday, lending a hand where he can and providing vital information to the large number of evacuees driven from their homes by the wildfires.
Reception centres have been set up not only in Burns Lake but in Smithers and Prince George to deal with several thousand people needing temporary assistance.
Evacuees should go to a reception centre closest to them, explained Bachrach.
In Smithers residents can go to Smithers Christian Reformed Church, 4035 Walnut Drive. The centre is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The centre cannot accept donations of food, clothes or money at this time Bulkley Valley Emergency Support Services director Matt Herzog said.
“I know there’s a lot of people that want to help but we weren’t set up to take those donations,” Herzog said.
Anyone who wishes to help is asked to offer any extra rooms or land they have for evacuees and livestock. This can be done by contacting Herzog at 250-877-7105.
Anyone who needs assistance outside of centre hours is asked to call that number as well.
In Burns Lake the reception centre is at College of New Caledonia, 545 Highway 16 West, Burns Lake, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Those travelling to Prince George to find accommodation because available rooms in Burns Lake have filled up should go to the back entrance of the CN Centre in Prince George, 100-2187 Ospika Blvd., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. After hours, refer to the sign on the door of the reception centre for available accommodations and further instruction.
In Fraser Lake residents should go to the Village of Fraser Lake Office, 210 Carrier Crescent from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
“Evacuees can expect $30 a day per person for billeting costs. An additional $10 will be given for an extra adult or youth and then $5 per child,” said Bachrach.
“For food allowance there are two choices: you can have a voucher $22.50 per day per person to purchase groceries; or a voucher for restaurants, $10 for breakfast, $13 for lunch and $22 for dinner per day per person.”
Businesses accepting vouchers will be reimbursed through the provincial government.
Bachrach said he came to Burns Lake in response to an invitation from Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako Chair Bill Miller.
“Bill Miller, chair of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, asked me to come and lend a hand, so I did. We all stick together when in need of help and I am doing whatever I can to help,” said Bachrach.
With files from Michael Grace-Dacosta.
