A young girl plays at the Red Cross shelter in Cold Lake
Red Cross volunteers assist people evacuated as a result of fires in Saskatchewan
Red Cross volunteers assist people evacuated as a result of fires in Saskatchewan
Red Cross volunteers assist people evacuated as a result of fires in Saskatchewan
Red Cross volunteers assist people evacuated as a result of fires in Saskatchewan
Red Cross volunteers are busy taking calls to help people evacuated as a result of the fires.
Coffee keeps these two volunteers going.
In Cold Lake, Alberta, families take part in recreation activities organized for people who are staying at the shelter.
Recognizing that people are far from home and worried about wildfires sweeping across northern Saskatchewan, Red Cross is working hard to keep spirits up at its
evacuation centres.
Games of basketball, badminton and soccer, arts and crafts, movie nights and musical entertainment are some of the daily activities being offered to help people pass the time at the seven shelters operated by Red Cross.
Evacuees at the emergency shelters are also receiving three nutritious meals a day, as well as snacks.
But it's an extremely difficult time for the more than 7,000 people forced by the wildfires to leave their homes. At present, individuals from 51 different communities have registered with Red Cross.
About 280 Canadian Red Cross volunteers and staff from the Prairies and elsewhere in Canada have been mobilized to assist people. More experienced Red Cross workers are arriving daily to lend a hand in Saskatchewan, as well as at a shelter in Cold Lake, Alberta.
Red Cross volunteers receive special training prior to being able to respond to disasters. You can find out more about
how to become a volunteer.