Kelowna ESS opens doors

Photo: Google Street View

An ESS reception centre has been set up at the Kelowna Salvation Army.

Emergency Social Services in Kelowna has mobilized to assist evacuees fleeing wildfires throughout the Interior.

Its reception centre went into action at 11 a.m. Wednesday, at the Salvation Army on Sutherland Avenue. There was a lineup waiting at 10 a.m.

Salvation Army spokesperson Patty Lou Bryant says over the next few days, they expect up to 1,000 people to register from wildfires in Princeton, Ashcroft, Williams Lake and 100 Miles House.

With weather predicted to hinder firefighting efforts today, more people could begin fleeing for safety.

Bryant says the centre was set up in Kelowna partly due to the fact many people have migrated to the Okanagan from fire-ravaged areas, but have not yet registered.

She urges those people to do so as soon as possible, so all the necessary paper work can be started.

"We have snacks, water, air conditioning, a toy play area, and kind and friendly people to direct people to where they need to go," said Bryant. "The other thing, we don't need anything. We don't need beds or clothes or anything like that at the present time."