BC Nurses’ Union Monitoring Provincial Wildfire Emergency

With a province-wide state of emergency declared as devastating wildfires force thousands of British Columbians to evacuate their homes and communities, the BC Nurses’ Union wishes to recognize the invaluable efforts of the many firefighters and first responders working to confront the ongoing crisis. The union also acknowledges the incredible commitment shown by members in affected communities, many who have worked tirelessly caring for others despite the significant personal impact this disaster has had on them and their families.

More than 100 wildfires are burning in BC. Close to 22,000 people are under evacuation orders across the province, while another 9,700 people have been told to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Officials are bracing for shifting weather patterns that could make conditions much worse.

BCNU is ready to work alongside the Ministry of Health and other health-care organizations to address the impact of the emergency.

Available Resources

The union is also ready to offer financial support to nurses affected by the wildfires. The Nurses’ Bargaining Association Hardship Assistance initiative provides a lifetime maximum of up to $1,500 in financial assistance to members experiencing hardship following a disaster or climate emergency resulting in sudden and/or unexpected circumstances, such as the need for food, shelter or medical support not covered by health-care benefits, or causing an evacuation from a member’s primary residence, loss of wages or financial hardship. Members can access their regional NBA Hardship Assistance Application in the BCNU Member Portal under Members > Documents and Forms > Forms > Bursaries and Funding.

Affected members working within Interior Health are strongly encouraged to access Employee and Family Assistance (EFAP) benefits to assist with psychological health and safety concerns. The EFAP program is available to all eligible employees and their families, and includes counselling, online resources and more. Interior Health also offers wellness resources for Indigenous employees that focus on the mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.

Any affected member who has concerns about their safety should report these to their employer immediately, contact their steward, or call BCNU at 604-433-2268 or 1-800-663-9991 and ask for the OHS officer assigned to their region. They can also email healthandsafety@bcnu.org.

How to Help

BCNU is monitoring the situation and will provide more information in the coming days on how members can help. In the meantime, members who would like to offer support to those affected by the wildfires can donate to the Canadian Red Cross BC Fires Appeal. Funds will be used to provide assistance to those impacted by the wildfires with immediate and ongoing relief, recovery, and resilience efforts and also be used to support mobilization of response and community partners.

The United Way of BC wildfire recovery campaign is helping the thousands who have been impacted by the crisis. Donations will go toward addressing important needs like food assistance, trauma, and mental health support, and fund a variety of programs and essential supports that are critical to residents as they recover emotionally and physically from the devastation of wildfires within their communities.