By Cheryl Jahn

Kin One site of reception center

Jul 12, 2023 | 3:02 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The lounge at Kin One has taken on a new look, effective today, becoming a reception centre in the case of evacuees coming to the city due to wildfires.

“So right now we’ve got about 320 fires happening, province-wide over 240 of them are happening in the northern half of the province. So there are major fires of note all around us,” explains Tanya Spooner, Manager of Emergency Services. “We’re preparing in Prince George for the possibility that eventually, evacuees will come to Prince George.”

In 2017, when wildfires forced people from their homes in the Cariboo, 10,000 evacuees made their way to Prince George where they lived in tents in parking lots at CNC and bunked out in the soccer fields at UNBC as well as hotels all over town. It was not an ideal situation, and much has been learned since then.

“And those EOC teams have activated and are handling the evacuation that has happened so far. We believe that we’re probably getting close to that tipping point where we might start seeing people in Prince George. So rather than wait for that call, we’re setting up this facility now.”

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And, with the reception centre now in place, it’s a matter of waiting. “We’re starting to see ash in Prince George. We’re starting to see more fires closer to Prince George as well. So it’s always a possibility is likely or not if but when it happens in Prince George’s here and we’re ready for it.”

The main Emergency Operations Centre is located in Fire Hall Number One. Kin One is being set up to register evacuees if needed.

“Individually, we’d like people to make sure that they’re making their own emergency plans. Ultimately, if people are able to stay with friends or family or leave the area to, you know, stay with someone they know, that lessens the impact on the municipalities that are responding to events and ultimately makes it an easier, more coordinated response .”

Spooner says, if an individual is under an emergency alert or an order, they can register for services online at ess.gov.bc.ca.