Residents of three care homes in Merritt have been relocated to the Lower Mainland, with the city on evacuation alert.

Interior Health says people who live at The Florentine, Gillis House and Nicola Meadows have been “proactively relocated.” It did not give more details but says families affected have been contacted directed.

The relocation comes as Merritt was placed on evacuation alert on Sunday night, because of the Lytton Creek wildfire.

Since Friday, other care homes have evacuated residents to the Lower Mainland, including one in West Kelowna, one in Armstrong, one in Lillooet and two in 100 Mile House.

IH also says emergency departments and urgent primary care clinics are still open in communities where evacuation alerts are in place, and it says people should not hesitate to go there if they need to.