Reception Centre Hours Cut Back

The City of Vernon has scaled back its reception centre for fire evacuees.

Emergency Social Services says due to few evacuees at the moment, the centre’s hours are now 1 to 4 pm daily for scheduled appointments and walk-ins.

“Many of the areas affected by wildfires near Williams Lake have been downgraded from an evacuation order to evacuation alert, and many evacuees are returning home,” says a City release.

Evacuees can also make appointments outside those hours by calling 250-540-4153.

The centre is located in the Dogwood Gym at the Vernon Recreation Centre.

The province has asked the City keep its group lodging sites at the Civic Arena and curling rink on standby during the wildfire season.

To date, ESS has registered 992 evacuees, and the Province has provided 62 evacuees with commercial lodging and 1,364 referrals for billeting.

The reception centre has processed 889 referral extensions since it opened on July 13.