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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.  Interior Health continues to support the wildfire response in our region, and our heartfelt thanks goes out to our care partners, first responders, community volunteers and local and provincial governments.  Those requiring support are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789, KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services at 1-800-588-8717, or MNBC Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-638-4722. Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: Wildfires | Natural Disasters & Emergencies | IH (interiorhealth.ca) Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status  The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours:https://weather.gc.ca/firework/   

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital due to limited nurse availability.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 to 7 a.m. on Friday, July 26. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or 100 Mile House District General Hospital in 100 Mile House at this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. People in the community who need life-saving emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.   Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.   The emergency department in Clearwater is normally open 24/7.  

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. The Slocan Community Health Centre is not evacuated at this time and will continue regular services until under order to evacuate. Interior Health is also ensuring community clients continue to have access to the services they need.  This is an evolving situation and we are working closely with municipalities, regional districts, and the BC Wildfire Service to ensure precautions are underway to protect patients, clients, and individuals in long-term care. Those requiring support during this crisis are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789, KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services at 1-800-588-8717, or MNBC Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-638-4722. Interior Health also continues to monitor wildfire activity across the region.  Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Emergency/Wildfires/Pages/default.aspx. Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status. The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours:https://weather.gc.ca/firework/. We will provide updates as new information is available.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24 to 6 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Patients can access care at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House, GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel, or Bella Coola General Hospital in Bella Coola during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.   Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Cariboo Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.   Emergency services will be unavailable from 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23 to 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Patients can access care at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House, GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel, or Bella Coola General Hospital in Bella Coola during this time.  All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.  People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.    Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.   The emergency department in Cariboo Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

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. Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. As the fire situation in Williams Lake has stabilized, a dedicated team will lead the planning work of repatriating residents home. Repatriation will occur gradually and carefully to ensure appropriate staffing and resources are in place when residents return to home. Interior Health continues to support the wildfire response in our region, and our heartfelt thanks goes out to our care partners, first responders, community volunteers and local and provincial governments. Those requiring support are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789, KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services at 1-800-588-8717, or MNBC Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-638-4722. Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: Wildfires | Natural Disasters & Emergencies | IH (interiorhealth.ca) Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours: https://weather.gc.ca/firework/

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. The Cariboo Memorial Hospital is not impacted at this time - anyone requiring care should proceed to the hospital as needed. Regular hours for the hospital are 24 hours, seven days a week. Interior Health is also working with all community clients to make plans for them to have access to the services they need should they need to evacuate. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. This is an evolving situation and we are working closely with municipalities, regional districts, and the BC Wildfire Service to ensure precautions are underway to protect patients, clients, and individuals in long-term care. Those requiring support during this crisis are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789,  KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services at 1-800-588-8717, or MNBC Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-638-4722. Interior Health also continues to monitor wildfire activity across the region. Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/natural-disasters-and-emergencies/wildfires Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours: https://weather.gc.ca/firework We will provide updates as new information is available.

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre due to limited physician availability.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. on Sunday, July 21 to 8 a.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Creston and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Creston Valley Hospital due to limited nursing availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 20 to 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 21. Patients can access care at East Kootenay Regional Hospital located at 13-24 Ave N., Cranbrook. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Creston Valley Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Creston is normally open 24/7.