With wildfires burning across the province, the hard-working volunteers of the Saanich Emergency Program have stepped up to help, virtually!

Starting today, seven Saanich Emergency Support Services (ESS) volunteers are providing virtual assistance to wildfire evacuees throughout BC from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until August 13, 2021.

These volunteers are the second group of individuals to offer virtual support to evacuees this wildfire season. The first five volunteers provided virtual assistance from July 9 to July 15.

The Evacuee Registration and Assistance (ERA) tool and virtual response model were developed in response to COVID-19 and are now being used by volunteers to provide critical support to people displaced from their homes. Evacuees are being registered on Emergency Management BCs online registration tool and guided to current information and supports.

ESS volunteers are continuously upgrading their skills and training, so they are ready to provide virtual and in-person support both locally and to other communities during an emergency.

“Our volunteers have done an excellent job adapting and training on this new technology, and in turn, they were ready to support this effort,” said Erin Stockill, Captain, Emergency Program, Saanich Fire Department. “Watching them jump into action has been impressive.”

Thank you to our volunteers for putting in unreal efforts in these unreal times.

Visit the Volunteer Services page at saanich.ca/ESS to learn how you can get involved.