Interior Health (IH) announced recently that it was bringing 24 residential care and community clients back to Clearwater now that an evacuation alert for the area has been lifted.
These clients were anticipated to return on Wednesday, July 26. Additionally, all services at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital are fully operational.
IH evacuated individuals in care – primarily residents from Forest View Place residential care site – as a precautionary measure on July 15 due to an evacuation alert that had been enacted based on wildfire activity.
The evacuation alert for Clearwater was lifted on Monday, July 24.
Forest View Place residents and community clients went to alternate facilities in Kamloops and Salmon Arm.
The inpatient medical unit at DHMH was also closed at that time, but the emergency department and other services continued.
Interior Health has contacted families to notify them that their loved ones are returning to Clearwater.
For further information on the wildfire situation, or impacts to health facilities and services, visit the Interior Health Major Events page on the IH website.