Since the wildfire season began, 1,551 wildfires and 861,283 hectares have burned in BC, and currently 48 evacuation orders are in place.
As evacuees suffer the loss of homes and belongings, and others find themselves in need of temporary lodgings, the province says they are teaming up with the Canadian Red Cross to offer financial assistance.
Financial assistance will be provided in one of three ways:
- $2,000 to eligible B.C. households whose primary residence has been severely affected by this season’s wildfires, based on structural loss information provided by Emergency Management BC (EMBC);
- $2,000 to eligible households who were evacuated from the Lytton region due to wildfires;
- $1,200 for B.C. households under a mandatory evacuation order for longer than 10 consecutive days during the 2021 wildfire season.
Eligible British Columbians need to register with the Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Financial assistance provided through the Red Cross will not affect eligibility for support through the provincial Emergency Support Services (ESS) program.
If you’d like to donate to BC households affected by wildfires, you can make a financial donation here through the Red Cross.
