Penticton moves to preserve evacuee capacity as more wildfire evacuees arrive

Penticton, pictured in 2022.

Photo by Algi

PENTICTON — Penticton is taking steps to preserve space for incoming wildfire evacuees as expanding Bald Range evacuation orders continue to put pressure on emergency support services in the city.

The City of Penticton said additional evacuees were continuing to arrive Sunday evening and encouraged registered Emergency Support Services guests who have somewhere else they can go to relocate from the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.

The city said the move is intended to ensure space remains available for new arrivals and people with the most immediate needs.

Penticton has not said the convention centre is full or released figures showing its current occupancy or maximum capacity. But the request provides a clear indication that officials are trying to manage available space as the city receives people displaced by the wildfire.

The convention centre at 273 Power Street remained an active ESS reception centre Monday, according to an updated Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen wildfire support notice issued at 1 p.m.

Penticton's current emergency information asks people using the convention centre for ESS registration to leave after completing the process if they are able, allowing staff to continue processing incoming evacuees and keeping supports available for those who need them most.

The demand comes as large-scale evacuation orders remain in effect across the South Okanagan.

In its Sunday evening update, the RDOS reported 451 regional district properties under evacuation order and another 1,065 under alert. The entire District of Summerland — 5,688 properties — was under evacuation order, while 38 Penticton Indian Band properties were under order and 1,082 were under alert.

Those figures represent properties rather than individual evacuees, and officials have not released a figure showing how many displaced people are currently being supported in Penticton.

Penticton itself was not under an evacuation alert or order related to the Bald Range wildfire in the city's latest wildfire update.

Officials have expanded the locations available to support people arriving in the community.

A Comfort Centre at Princess Margaret Secondary School, 120 Green Ave. W., remains open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing washrooms and showers, seating, water and light snacks, indoor space and recreation areas. Temporary overnight parking for campers and trailers is also available at the school.

The RDOS said Monday that additional parking for trucks, RVs and trailers is available at Penticton Secondary School, King's Park, Skaha Lake Park, Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, Wholesale Club and the Penticton Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The Penticton Community Centre is also offering evacuees access to free showers and washrooms as well as a children's play area.

The combination of the additional support locations and the request for people who no longer need to remain at the convention centre to move elsewhere shows the logistical pressure being placed on Penticton as a host community.

For now, however, officials continue to direct evacuees to Penticton. The RDOS's Monday afternoon update continued to list the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre as an Emergency Support Services reception centre.