No End to State of Emergency

BC’s wildfire-driven provincial state of emergency has been extended for another two weeks.

It’s the fourth time the declaration has been extended — the longest in the province’s history — meaning it will continue to at least September 15.

It allows a coordinated response from all levels of governments and agencies.

“As well, the Province remains committed to provide ongoing, direct financial support to evacuees, with $600-per-household funding, which will be renewed every 14 days until evacuees return home,” says a government news release. “Eligible small businesses affected by the fires can also now receive a $1,500 emergency grant through the Canadian Red Cross and Province.”

There are 160 wildfires burning in BC, with 16 evacuation orders affecting 36-hundred people, plus 39 evacuation alerts impacting more than 13-thousand people.

The last provincial declaration of state of emergency before this one was issued in August 2003 to deal with wildfires.