Salvation Army responds to bushfires in Canada
Salvation Army responds to bushfires in Canada
17 July 2017
Multiple Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services units have been on the ground helping evacuees after raging bushfires in British Columbia, Canada.
The Salvation Army in the Canadian province of British Columbia has been busy supporting several communities affected by bushfires that have burned through vast areas of land as a result of an extremely hot summer.
Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Venables, Divisional Commander, said The Salvation Army’s Emergency and Disaster Services was on alert to provide fast, efficient service to first responders and those impacted by the disaster.
“The Salvation Army’s established and well-rehearsed emergency protocol allowed the organisation to offer practical support such as food and water, as well as emotional and spiritual care,” he said.
With more than 14,000 people evacuated, Salvation Army emergency response teams have supported several communities, including Williams Lake, where nearly 2000 meals have been served.
Another team in Prince George partnered with local restaurants to distribute 450 meals, as thousands of evacuees continue to enter the city.
In Kamloops, a Salvation Army team assisted an estimated 3500 evacuees from Cache Creek, supplying hydration and emotional support.
An incident command team in Abbotsford coordinated the province-wide response to the disaster and dispatched staff, volunteers, supplies and trucks to evacuation centres across British Columbia.
“It is our mission to offer hope and practical support in the midst of challenging circumstances,” said Perron Goodyear, Territorial Emergency Disaster Services Director. “We are grateful for all who partner with us to make a difference in communities across the country and in the lives of people impacted by disaster.”
This article first appeared in New Frontier Chronicle.
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