Interior Health (IH) is responding to the potential for fire-related impacts to health facilities and clients in the community of Ashcroft due to the Shetland Creek wildfire.
As a precautionary measure, IH is relocating 21 residents from Jackson House long-term care home and five clients from Thompson View Lodge assisted living facility to alternate locations away from the impacted area.
Interior Health is contacting families directly and providing updates on the location of their loved ones.
The Ashcroft Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) is not impacted at this time - anyone requiring care should proceed to the UPCC as needed. Regular hours for the UPCC are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
Interior Health is also working with all community clients to make plans for them to have access to the services they need should they need to evacuate.
People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.
Emergency department services are available 24/7 at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.
This is an evolving situation and we are working closely with municipalities, regional districts, and the BC Wildfire Service to ensure precautions are underway to protect patients, clients, and individuals in long-term care.
Those requiring support during this crisis are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789.
Interior Health also continues to monitor wildfire activity across the region.
Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Emergency/Wildfires/Pages/default.aspx
Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service
Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status
The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours: https://weather.gc.ca/firework/
We will provide updates as new information is available.
