PRESS RELEASE: Interior Health
PENTICTON – Interior Health is taking proactive measures to protect patients, clients, residents and staff from the Christie Mountain fire.
Braemore Lodge is within the evacuation zone and Interior Health is relocating nine of its residents and accompanying care teams to Mount Ida Mews long-term care home in Salmon Arm.
Out of an abundance of caution, IH has activated its internal emergency operation centre and prepared contingency plans in the event the evacuation zone is expanded. This includes efforts to reduce patient occupancy at the Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH).
The following efforts are already underway:
People receiving IH community services within the evacuation alert zone will continue to receive support and the PRH remains open to receive urgent trauma and emergency patients.
We have proactively identified people in isolation due to COVID-19. If the evacuation zone is expanded, we will ensure everyone who needs to remain isolated will be supported in developing a safe isolation plan separate from the general public.
The Evacuation Centre, located at 199 Ellis St. Penticton, has COVID-19 screening measures in place to ensure the safety of evacuees and community members.
For wildfire information, visit: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Emergency/MajorEvents/Pages/default.aspx.
For wildfire health impact information, visit: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Emergency/Wildfires/Pages/default.aspx