BC Gov News B.C. has declared a state of provincial emergency due to regional wildfires. Find evacuation info at EmergencyInfoBC.ca. For Emergency Support Services, visit ess.gov.bc.ca. BC Gov News Skip to main content Skip to footer Live Webcast News News By Ministry Office of the Premier Agriculture and Food Attorney General Children and Family Development Citizens' Services Education and Child Care Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Energy and Climate Solutions Environment and Parks Finance Forests Health Housing and Municipal Affairs Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Infrastructure Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat Jobs and Economic Growth Labour Mining and Critical Minerals Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Public Safety and Solicitor General Social Development and Poverty Reduction Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Transportation and Transit Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Subscribe Live Webcast By Ministry Office of the Premier Agriculture and Food Attorney General Children and Family Development Citizens' Services Education and Child Care Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Energy and Climate Solutions Environment and Parks Finance Forests Health Housing and Municipal Affairs Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Infrastructure Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat Jobs and Economic Growth Labour Mining and Critical Minerals Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Public Safety and Solicitor General Social Development and Poverty Reduction Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Transportation and Transit Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Supporting evacuees update Share More from this Ministry Search Honourable Kelly Greene Honourable Kelly Greene Read Bio Contact Email: [email protected] Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Premiers statement on declaration of state of provincial emergency August 8, 2026 1:35 PM Premier David Eby has issued the following statement on the declaration of a state of provincialemergency in B.C.: Read More Update on supports for Summerland-area evacuees August 12, 2026 11:15 AM ALL NEWS FROM THIS MINISTRY More from this Ministry Factsheets & Opinion Editorials Search News Minister's Bio Skip to main content Skip to footer Print Emergency Management and Climate Readiness British Columbia News Supporting evacuees update https://news.gov.bc.ca/34166 Saturday, August 15, 2026 7:00 AM Government continues to send supports Share Information Bulletin Victoria Saturday, August 15, 2026 7:00 AM Share Information Bulletin Victoria Saturday, August 15, 2026 7:00 AM Media Contacts Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Media Relations 250-880-6430 More from this Ministry Factsheets Ministry Website Ministry Photos Ministry Videos Featured Topics EmergencyInfoBC PreparedBC Emergency Management Emergency Alerts Disaster mitigation programs Featured Services Emergency Support Services (ESS) Summary Accommodation continues to be available for people evacuated from the Bald Range fire Those who require continued Emergency Support Services are encouraged to call the BC Evacuee Helpline to renew their supports For anyone in British Columbia, pre-registering for Emergency Support Services can help you access help more quickly in an emergency __________ As wildfire activity continues, support continues to be available to those who have evacuated. Accommodation continues to be available for people evacuated who need it. As of Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, government has more than 1,500 block-booked hotel rooms that are available for evacuees. Those looking for a referral to a hotel must go to a reception centre. The Province recognizes that hotel rooms may not meet everyone’s needs, such as those with pets. People are encouraged to go to the reception centre where volunteers can help with the accommodations options that will best meet their needs. Group lodging spaces also continue to be available. Emergency Support Services (ESS) accommodation options may include one of the following: a referral to a hotel room block-booked by the Province: people must receive a referral from the reception centre access to group lodgings a $200 e-transfer for those who choose other accommodation options, such as a hotel in a different community, camping or staying with family or friends. Renewing Emergency Support Services ESS supports must be renewed after one week. People still under evacuation order who would like to continue receiving the $200 e-transfer are encouraged to renew by calling the BC Evacuee Helpline at 1-800-387-4258 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. This can be done on or before the expiry date. Be patient as wait times may increase with many people renewing supports over the weekend. Those who would like a hotel referral instead of the $200 e-transfer should visit a reception centre. People are also encouraged to contact their insurance company as soon as possible. Many insurance policies include coverage for fire damage and losses, including from wildfires, and can support with living expenses while evacuated. Everyone in B.C. urged to pre-register for ESS Anyone living in B.C. who has been forced to evacuate from their primary residence in an emergency and needs support is eligible for ESS. This includes temporary foreign workers and others living in the area under evacuation order, regardless of their citizenship status. As wildfire activity continues, government is encouraging everyone throughout British Columbia to pre-register for ESS before an emergency occurs at ess.gov.bc.ca, regardless of where they live or how close they are to an active wildfire or other emergency event. Registering in advance allows for faster online support in the case of an emergency. ESS is available to provide temporary support for people who need help meeting their basic needs during an emergency, such as food, clothing, accommodation and other incidentals. Learn More: For more information on recovery after a wildfire, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc/know-your-hazards/wildfires/after-wildfire To register with Emergency Support Services, visit: https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ For the latest information about evacuation alerts and evacuation orders in B.C., visit: https://EmergencyInfoBC.ca Or follow @EmergencyInfoBC on X and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmergencyInfoBC/ To prepare travel plans, visit: https://www.travel-british-columbia.com/know-before-you-travel-in-british-columbia/ For up-to-date information about road conditions, visit: https://www.drivebc.ca/ For BC Wildfire Service information and updates, visit: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/dashboard For mental-health and substance-use supports, visit: https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/ Media Contacts Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Media Relations 250-880-6430 https://news.gov.bc.ca/34166 Related Articles Premiers statement on declaration of state of provincial emergency August 8, 2026 1:35 PM Update on supports for Summerland-area evacuees August 12, 2026 11:15 AM Supporting Summerland-area evacuees August 10, 2026 5:01 PM Connect with the Ministry Photos View the Ministry's latest photos on Flickr. 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