As of Monday afternoon, around 180 people have registered at the emergency reception area in the Athabasca Regional Multiplex after fleeing the Wabasca wildfires last night.
The number is expected to grow as the days go on.
The Multiplex is currently accommodating 90 people, although room is available for 610. Pets will be accommodated.
An RV park has been set up behind the Multiplex and the Red Cross has booked all available hotel rooms in Athabasca.
“There is limited number of hotel rooms so the priority is being given to people who need it,” said Karl Kopan, communications coordinator with the County of Athabasca.
“Cots will be set up as needed as we progress,” he added. “We don’t know how many people are going to be coming here at this point because we are a satellite reception centre.”
The reception centre opened Sunday night just after 8 p.m. as a satellite site to the primary reception centre in Calling Lake, 90 minutes south of Wabasca and 50 minutes north of Athabasca.
Red Cross has confirmed over 2,000 people are staying in Calling Lake and newcomers will be sent to Athabasca.
Upon arrival at the centre, staff will ask those registering what their situation is and what their needs are.
Hygiene kits, towels, sleeping bags, medicine and other amenities will be provided. Meals will also be served.
“We’re just waiting on coordinating food efforts with Calling Lake,” Kopan said. “They have more people than we do here in Athabasca. The food is coming from here so we have to coordinate that to make sure everything is working.”
He added that the reception is not currently accepting donations.
“There is a list at our reception desk that they’re making for people to write down what they’re offering or what they have to help out,” he noted.
This is not the first time the Multiplex and Athabasca residents have lent a helping hand during an emergency.
“We do have some experience helping us here because of the Slave Lake fire (in 2008),” Kopan mentioned. “Many of the reception staff have actually done this before. That enables them to have a little bit more insight on how to help people and what their state of mind may be.
“We just hope everything works out well for them and that we’re able to provide a home away from home while they’re here.”
There are 35 staff and a number of volunteers assisting with the reception desk and food preparation.
If people plan on arriving at the Reception Centre, they can call ahead of time at (780) 675-2967. More information can be found on the county website at www.athabascacounty.com
