The Hospital Employees’ Union is making an immediate $25,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross to help in relief efforts for thousands of British Columbians impacted by the Interior wildfires.
To date, about 14,000 residents in several communities have been evacuated since the fires broke out late last week. Others are on evacuation alert.
And there are still more than 180 active forest fires in the region.
Although areas like Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Princeton, Alexis Creek, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, and several Indigenous communities have been deeply affected, several other cities are experiencing air quality advisories as smoke and ash fill the sky.
HEU members are going beyond the call of duty to assist patients and residents during evacuations, transfers to other health care sites, and deploying their services to hospitals in surrounding areas – even while ensuring their own families and homes are safe.
The B.C. Fires Appeal of the Canadian Red Cross will provide both immediate relief and financial support to those directly impacted by the unfolding tragedy.
Visit the Red Cross website for more information, or to make a donation.