Comox Rotarians and other caring people were appealing to the public Friday at Simms Park to ‘Stop and Give’ to the provincial fire relief effort, to assist those in other parts of B.C. being ravaged by fires.
They raised more than $6,000 cash in about a week — $2,500 of that on Friday — and a trailer full of household goods, mostly sheets, towels, blankets and personal hygiene items.
“We were originally targeting Prince George, but if we can’t get there, it will be for Kamloops,” said Charlene Davis, Rotary Club of Comox vice-president. “There’s not any limit of places we can go with resources to help out.”
Thrifty Foods assisted the campaign by providing cookies and donuts.
Friday marked two weeks since raging wildfires have displaced thousands of British Columbians, forcing the province to call a state of emergency. On Wednesday, Premier John Horgan said he would extend the order for an additional two weeks, since many of the 43,000 people who fled their homes in the Interior are not yet able to return.
Canadian Army soldiers from the Edmonton Garrison arrived in Williams Lake Friday to patrol evacuated areas and to assist evacuees. On Thursday, a group of 53 firefighting specialists from Australia arrived in Chilliwack to help fight the fires.
with files from Black Press