Interior Health (IH) is evacuating its facilities in Williams Lake due to impacts from wildfires burning in the Cariboo region.
The evacuation affects acute care patients from Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH), residents from IH’s residential care facility Deni House, and residents and assisted living clients from IH’s contracted partner Williams Lake Seniors Village.
“Please note, the CMH Emergency Department and Maternity services remain open,” said Interior Health in a media release. “Collaboration is occurring with a number of agencies – including Northern Health and the BC Ambulance Service – to ensure the safe relocation of individuals in care. Acute care patients are in the process of evacuation to G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel and University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George. Planning is also underway to relocate residential care and assisted living clients from Deni House and Williams Lake Seniors Village. Some residents and clients were able to go to their family members’ homes.”
Health care staff are assessing each individual and determining the best place to safely relocate them based on their specific care needs.
As of 12:28 pm, Saturday, July 8, the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations
said that there have been no changes in evacuation orders or alerts since Friday evening due to the fires which were mainly sparked by lightning throughout the region.
“CRD volunteer fire departments have been working non-stop to protect the properties within their communities where fires have been active,” the CRD said in a media release. “Multiple agencies and
government levels are working as a team in support of all first responders, evacuees and property values of all kinds.”
“This event is ongoing and the help, cooperation, and understanding, of all persons involved or
affected will ultimately provide us all with the best possible results.”
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