It was exactly two years ago that a wildfire swept through the Ashcroft/Cache Creek area and the Red Cross has released their report on recovery in the region.

24 million dollars was donated for wildfire relief and ninety percent of it has been used for both immediate and long term help.

Elysia Dempsey, Director of Emergency Management with the Canadian Red Cross says one of the biggest considerations in a disaster is the psychological impact. “What we know over the past number of years, particularly with the Fort MacMurray fires that happened, is that mental health supports are so very necessary.”

“Particularly we see the need coming in year two or three, so this is where we’re at right now.”

Dempsey says some of the money goes to clinical counselling and the United Way to help with mental health coordination among other things.