Northern Health preparing for potential increase in fire activity

Northern Health has started planning for potential worst-case scenarios when it comes to wildfires in the coming weeks and months.

The health authority issued the following statement earlier today (Thursday):

Northern Health is preparing for the potential for an increase in wildfire activity in the region, due to recent weather conditions and forecasts for the coming weeks.

At this time there are no NH facilities impacted by wildfire concerns, however the region is currently under a number of Environment and Climate Change Canada Heat Warnings, and smoky conditions are affecting air quality in some communities.

Northern Health’s proactive planning for wildfire impacts on health services includes close collaboration with Ministry of Health, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), and Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC), and ensuring facility response plans are up to date. Depending on wildfire impacts in a given community or region, the response may include movement of  patients or long-term care residents as a precaution, or due to evacuation alerts and orders.

Northern Health is monitoring the wildfire situation closely, and will make every effort to keep patients and communities updated about impacts or changes to local services such as non-urgent appointment or procedure cancellations, changing referral patterns for patients, or expanded NH Connections medical travel supports between communities.

The public is encouraged to subscribe to available emergency alerts and keep up to date on information from local and provincial agencies such as Regional District Emergency Operations Centres, Emergency Info BC, and local media outlets. For the latest on BC’s current wildfire situation, visit BC Wildfire Service – Current Wildfire Situation.

Wildfire season can be stressful, but having a clear emergency plan and kit ready for your family, pets and livestock can ease your mind. Visit PreparedBC for resources to help you understand the hazards in your location and then build a family emergency plan. And for more resources to cope with wildfire and natural disaster stress, visit BCDisasterStress.ca.