Help Slocan Valley Wildfire Volunteers Evacs & Firefighters

On July 17th, a thunderstorm lit a record number of wildfires in the North Slocan Valley, which over the course of the last week and a half have grown rapidly, threatening communities, businesses and farms (Komonko Creek fire 534 hectares, Aylwin Creek 593 hectares, Valhalla Provincial Park 828 hectares, Wilson Creek 22 hectares). Buildings and livestock have been lost, properties have been irrevocably damaged, and the valley’s resilient but small population is struggling to cope with the ongoing devastation. All of Silverton and many properties in the North Slocan Area H are on evac order and the Village of New Denver is on evac alert. The financial and emotional toll is massive, and will continue to affect livelihoods long after the fires have been extinguished.

On top of this, Valhalla Provincial Park has been decimated. On Wednesday night, people watched in horror as the area’s key tourism draw was devoured by a wall of flames. Rebuilding the trails and campsites so the park is once again safe to visit will take a monumental effort with years of volunteer labour - something that locals are prepared to do but will require a sacrifice of their valuable time and resources.

We need your help now. Please consider supporting our community with a donation to Slocan Solutions Non profit society. Funds may be used for:

-Feeding evacuees with food sourced from local businesses and farmers

-Purchasing additional hoses, sprinklers, etc. for further fire prevention efforts and structural protection

-Cleanup, rebuilding and repairing

-Replacing lost livestock animals

-Supporting the local economy

-Bolstering community efforts to reconnect and heal

This fundraiser is organized by Danika Hammond, a volunteer for Slocan Solutions Nonprofit Society.

 https://slocansolutions.wordpress.com/ 

Once the evacuation orders have been lifted, Slocan Solutions will appoint a diverse and representative committee to help disperse the funds. This committee will review public feedback and applications to determine how much money will go to the various causes including supporting evacuees with rebuilding, community economic recovery, etc. The committee will make recommendations to the Slocan Solutions which will authorize the expenditures.

Photos by Petra Hekkenberg