
The McArthur Island Emergency Reception Centre in Kamloops. (Photo via Victor Kaisar)
As the Southern Interior settles into more hot, dry conditions — adding to the risk of further wildfire activity — steps have been taken in Kamloops to accommodate a potential influx of evacuees.
The City has completed work on its group lodging center in the Curling Rink at McArthur Island, near the City’s Emergency Operations Center reception area.
Community Services Manager Will Beatty says quite a bit of work has gone into the set-up.
“Portable AC units, washroom, shower trailers, cots as well as pipe and drape, and using our newly-found survey equipment to get a good floor survey so we don’t have to do the same work next year,” said Beatty.
Beatty says at this point, there hasn’t been any requests made for use of the facility.
“We do have a certain level of confidence with hotel accommodation, based on the new portal that we’re using with the province. But that’s not to take away from the fact that we’re coming into a long weekend with increased heat,” said Beatty.
The group lodging facility has 87 cots provided by BC Housing, with the costs of establishing it being borne by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.