Evacuees: Call your insurance company to make a claim immediately and keep ALL of your receipts and track your mileage to give to your insurance company! Many expenses while displaced are reimbursable under most home policies.
British Columbians who require assistance can call the BC Evacuee Helpline at 1-800-387-4258 (extended hours 7:30am–9:00pm during active wildfires) for help with Emergency Support Services registration. For general wildfire information, check EmergencyInfoBC.ca.
British Columbians are encouraged to pre-register for Emergency Support Services (ESS) — even before an emergency happens — at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ (Evacuee Registration & Assistance / ERA tool). This speeds up access to support (lodging, food, clothing, incidentals) if you're evacuated.
Register with the Canadian Red Cross even if you don't need aid right away — it helps reunite families and unlocks additional financial assistance. Call 1-800-863-6582 or register online: https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses
Evacuation Zones and Their Reception Centres
Reception centres (click for directions):
Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, 273 Power Street, Penticton — for RDOS/Summerland evacuees.
You can check with the following for updates:
Information for Landlord and Tenants in BC Regarding Wildfires: (No Updates as of yet.)
Emergency Funds
Emergency Support Services (ESS) covers short-term basic needs (accommodation, food, clothing, incidentals) for evacuees. Register/learn more: https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ or call 1-800-387-4258. Some evacuees under an evacuation order may be eligible for e-Transfer supports (e.g., a nightly amount) without visiting a reception centre in person.
Red Cross financial assistance
The Canadian Red Cross, working with the Province, has in past events provided direct financial assistance to registered evacuees (e.g., re-entry funds). Eligibility is event-specific — call 1-800-863-6582 to register/ask about current assistance, or see: https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/british-columbia-fires/bc-fires--assistance-faqs
Employment Insurance
Info here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html
Stay calm, watch for emergency crews, and check current road conditions before you travel: DriveBC.ca — https://drivebc.ca Follow instructions from your local authority or First Nation and avoid areas under evacuation order/alert.
For free 24/7 information and referral, dial 211 (or visit https://bc.211.ca — has a dedicated wildfires resource page: https://bc.211.ca/wildfires/) BC Evacuee Helpline: 1-800-387-4258
HealthLinkBC has an emergency resource page found here: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca
Replacement Health/Services Card: Call Health Insurance BC or report a missing BC Services Card per instructions here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/government-id/bc-services-card/your-card/replace-renew-card
Cell Phone: *5555
Phone: 1-800-663-5555
Website: Report a wildfire
Food and supplies are available at the Evacuation Reception Centres. See the list above.
Pet rescues
If wildfire forces you to evacuate and you lose your BC driver's licence, BC Services Card, or other BC identification, ICBC can issue a free replacement without needing additional ID documents (some exceptions may apply).
No Updates.
Protect yourself from unfair business practices and scams during the wildfire emergency.
If you see something suspicious or think you've been the target of a scam, report it to your local police or to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online.
Contact the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP) if you need help with your payments because of wildfires.
No Updates.
No Updates.
Mandy Larsson to Fort Mcmurray evac relocation help group
Dear evacuees. From my experience during the Slave Lake fires, I have some information. It may not pertain to everything you have gone through, or will go through, but it might help.
Don't believe everything you read or hear about everything being gone. Don't believe the media when they post photos and videos of total destruction. As that is unfortunately the case in some areas, it doesn't mean your home is gone. They were saying all of Slave Lake, Canyon Creek and surrounding areas were completely gone, during the fires; but in reality, 20% of Canyon Creek and Widewater were lost, and several blocks of homes were gone in Slave Lake. Not the entire city, as some people were reporting.
Be prepared to be gone 2 weeks, maybe more, probably not less. The will need to get the burned areas fenced off, gas lines capped, electric wires fixed, and water treatment running, all before they will let people back in. It's a big city, so this could take some time. It will also be very hot, and there were guns, or bullets I should say, erupting days after the fire stopped. So find a place you are comfortable staying for a while.
When you get home, your fridge and freezers will be garbage. They will probably give you duct tape to tape it closed and put it outside for collection. Hopefully nearby appliance locations are preparing to stock up, for the demand that will come. Don't open your fridge, unless you have a morbid desire to smell things that are rotten.
Keep every receipt you get from now on. Food, shelter, clothing, toiletries, gas, keep track of kms driven. Your insurance company should cover this, even if you haven't lost your home. It was a mandatory evacuation, which changes things.
When you get home, take photos of everything. You may need to wash everything fabric in your home (curtains, bedding, clothes in the closet, etc) as they will smell like smoke. Be prepared for that by not coming home late and hoping to sleep. You may not be able to.
If you need help coping with the devastation and fear and loss, seek help. Early
Good luck to you all. Alberta, and all of Canada is already stepping up to find ways to help! And though it may not seem like it now, your city will flourish again.️
Edited to Add, thanks to Delaine Langer!
Your furnace and air ducts should be cleaned!