Whitehorse Daily Star

Centre created to help displaced fire victims

A reception centre has been established in Whitehorse to provide emergency support to B.C. residents impacted by the wildfires near Telegraph Creek.

By Whitehorse Star on August 10, 2018

A reception centre has been established in Whitehorse to provide emergency support to B.C. residents impacted by the wildfires near Telegraph Creek.

On Thursday, the Yukon government received a formal request from the Province of British Columbia to provide emergency social services support to those who have been impacted by the wildfires. It opened this morning at Vanier Catholic Secondary School in Riverdale.

Reception centres are already operating in Dease Lake, Iskut and Terrace, B.C.

Almost 300 people have had to leave Telegraph Creek. Two wildfires have merged into one, and an estimated 20 structures in the community have been destroyed.

The Whitehorse reception centre will, if required:

• Co-ordinate non-medical survival needs.

• Provide registration and inquiry services.

• Co-ordinate lodging and supports.

• Co-ordinate alternative shelter for domestic pets.

• Care for people with special requirements in special care facilities.

All Telegraph Creek residents who are currently in the Yukon are asked to visit the reception centre as soon as possible to register for emergency social services.

The centre is not prepared to accept donations from the public at this time. Officials planned to provide more details on their plans at a news conference held late this morning.

Emergency social services may include food, lodging, clothing, emotional support, information about the crisis, and family reunification.

There may also be special services like psychosocial support, child minding, and pet care.

The effort is co-ordinated by the Northwest Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre in Terrace, in partnership with the territorial Department of Health and Social Services.

As the Star reported Thursday, a crew of firefighters from the Yukon travelled to Telegraph Creek on Wednesday to assist in the battle against the devastating fire.

The crew is managed by the development arm of the Ta’an Kwach’an Council, a First Nation in the Whitehorse area.

Spokesman Ben Asquith said the call for assistance came from Darius Elias. The parents of the former Vuntut Gwitchin MLA live in Telegraph Creek.

As well, Alison Pakula, the owner and chef of Alligator’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese, has been taking donations at her food cart in front of the Waterfront Wharf in downtown Whitehorse.

See recap of other fires in B.C.,.

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