The MP for Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay said support is available for evacuees of the Bald Range wildfire as crews continue to fight the fire.
Helena Konanz said in an interview with Vista Radio that the federal government can provide additional help if necessary.
“If they’ve requested help, they can request more help from the federal government when it’s appropriate. And I haven’t been told whether they’ve done that yet or not.”
Konanz added that an emergency reception centre is open at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre for evacuees who need support.
“I’m in Penticton, and this is where many of the evacuees have come. And so we have evacuee reception areas set up through the city, and the volunteers are doing a great job helping our neighbours.”
B.C. has experienced an active wildfire season this year, with fires burning in several parts of the province, including the Fraser Canyon and Thompson-Nicola region. Konanz said hot and dry summer conditions and wildfires are becoming a way of life in the Okanagan.
“I think that fire has become a way of life at times for us in the summer. So at first, you wonder whether it’s just going to remain a small fire or not, and obviously, this one did not, which puts so many people’s homes and lives in jeopardy. I really want to say thank you to our frontline firefighters and all the volunteers that are helping out with the evacuees. But the firefighters are really doing an amazing job.”
Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong has criticized the provincial government’s firefighting efforts, saying residents should prepare for what she called “the government’s failures.” Konanz said the emergency is not the time to point fingers.
“Every time there’s an emergency happening like this, we need to address that emergency first. Then afterwards, we can evaluate what should and shouldn’t have happened. I don’t want to put any blame on anyone right now, but I think that it’s a really good idea to evaluate what the federal government has done in a way of supporting firefighting and disaster mitigation, especially in British Columbia, where we have had fires, floods and other disasters. So I think that this is not the time to point fingers at anyone, but after we are done with this emergency, then I think the best thing to do is evaluate what can be done better.”
The Bald Range wildfire was estimated at 9,500 hectares, with thousands of people ordered to evacuate. Evacuees were directed to reception centres in Penticton and at the Lions Community Hall in West Kelowna.
