With Williams Lake residents back home, the demand for emergency services in Vernon has eased.
The Emergency Social Services reception centre, located in the Vernon Recreation Complex, is changing its hours and will now be open between 1 and 4 p.m. daily for scheduled appointments and walk-ins. The centre can also accommodate evacuees by appointment outside of the scheduled times by calling 250-540-4153.
To date, ESS has registered 992 evacuees, and the provincial government has provided 62 evacuees with commercial lodging and 1,364 referrals for billeting. The reception centre has processed 889 referral extensions since it opened July 13.
The government has asked Vernon ESS to keep group lodging on standby during the wildfire season.