The 21 residents evacuated from Cariboo Place long-term care home in Williams Lake on Tuesday, July 23 will be returning home in the afternoon on Friday, July 26.

All the necessary supports and infrastructure are in place for the residents to return safely and, barring a significant change in wildfire conditions in the area, transport will proceed as planned.

Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Call centre operating hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital due to limited nurse availability. 

Name: Dr. Dwight Ferris
Pronouns: He/him/his
Job Title: Infectious disease physician
Years of Service: 23 years
Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital
Community: Kelowna 
Ancestral Territory: Syilx

Interior Health (IH) is responding to the potential for fire-related impacts to health facilities and clients in the community of New Denver.  

As a precautionary measure, IH is relocating 28 residents from the Pavilion long-term care home to alternate locations away from the impacted area.  

Interior Health is contacting families directly and has established a phone line where they can get updates on the location of their loved ones. That phone number is 1-833-469-9800, and hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. 

Smoky skies from wildfires can trigger anxiety or worry in children and youth, especially amidst evacuation alerts or orders. It can be hard to know how to communicate wildfire or evacuation information to children in a way that doesn’t cause them concern. 

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.  

As a precautionary measure, Interior Health (IH) supported the relocation of 21 residents from Cariboo Place long-term care home to alternate locations away from wildfire risk last night.

Interior Health is aware of information circulating in the community and would like to confirm that planning work was undertaken to ensure the ability to respond in the event of a risk to the life and safety of residents in care. At this time, there will be no further evacuations of residents.

Interior Health (IH) is responding to the potential for fire-related impacts to health facilities and clients in the community of Williams Lake due to the River Valley wildfire.

As a precautionary measure, IH is relocating 21 residents from Cariboo Place long-term care home to alternate locations away from the impacted area.

Staff from Cariboo Place have been contacting families directly and providing updates on the location of their loved ones. For any families looking for further information on their loved ones, they may call 778-417-0275 or 780-399-6570.