BCNU Joins Health Sector Partners and Ministry of Health for Update on Wildfire Crisis

BCNU is working alongside the Ministry of Health and other health care organizations to address the impact of the ongoing wildfire crisis in the province. The first of a series of weekly teleconference meetings took place on Thursday.

Arlene Paton, assistant deputy minister of population and public health, says they are predicting the provincial state of emergency will remain in effect for the next 60 days due to the hot, dry, long-range weather forecast.

The evacuation of hospitals, long-term care facilities and home support services in 100 Mile House, Ashcroft and Williams Lake has resulted in the transfer of 1,000 registered patients within Interior Health. A further 200 have been moved to Prince George.

The focus over the next week will be to determine the primary care needs of all patients who have been disconnected from their health care providers and may require services.

The BC Centre for Disease Control is also reviewing air quality data due to the heavy smoke in many areas and will be informing the public and staff on what to do if the conditions continue to deteriorate. No evacuations due to the wildfire smoke have occurred as of yet.

Up to 16,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes and another 8,000 have been told to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

BCNU is monitoring the situation and will provide more updates when the information comes in. For the latest on the situation, click here.