FILE PHOTO - An air tanker drops retardant on a fire.

(MARSHALL JONES / iNFOnews.ca)

With an unprecedented number of wildfires in the region, hotels and motels are filling up, making things difficult for wildfire evacuees.

Businesses and communities from across the Thompson-Okanagan region are stepping up and offering lodging for evacuees and their pets.

READ MORE: Resiliency Centre for wildfire evacuees set to open in Kamloops

Historic O’Keefe Ranch

The Historic O’Keefe Ranch is offering camping spaces for wildfire evacuees with nowhere else to stay. The ranch is just north of Vernon at 9380 Highway 97. Evacuees must present valid paperwork showing they have been evacuated and must bring their own camping supplies.

There is space for animals but fencing is limited. The ranch is accepting donations of portable fencing.

Evacuees can call the ranch directly at 250-542-7868 or message the ranch on Facebook for immediate assistance.

Rock Creek Fall Fair grounds

The Rock Creek Fall Fair Grounds are being offered if evacuees need a place to keep their animals. The fair is asking evacuees to message them through their Facebook page to make arrangements. The fair grounds are located at 3880 Kettle Valley Street South in Rock Creek.

Boundary Horse Association grounds

The Boundary Horse Association grounds in Grand Forks at 5770 Darcy Roadd is available if space is needed for animals. Dry camping spaces are also available. Call or text Madalene Espenhain at 250-443-9379 for more information.

B.C. SPCA

The B.C. SPCA is providing wildfire evacuee pets with free emergency boarding at the B.C. SPCA Animal Evacuation Centre set up in Kamloops. For more information visit the SPCA’s website here.

Rose Valley Veterinary Clinic

For the last 10 years, the Rose Valley Veterinary Clinic, in West Kelowna has offered to look after the pets of wildfire evacuees in the area. The clinic is located at 2476 Westlake Road and can be reached by calling 250-769-9109.

Emergency Management B.C. is asking people in wildfire-affected communities to plan their accommodations, in the event of an evacuation order, in advance to help ensure capacity for evacuees who need hotel rooms.

“If possible, the best option would be to arrange to stay with family or friends, so commercial accommodations have capacity for evacuees who have no other option.”

If you are under an evacuation order, you can self-register with ESS online or go to a reception centre set up in your local communities. A full list of reception centres can be found online through Emergency Info B.C. website.

Desert Park

Desert Park, a horse boarding and equine facility located in Osoyoos at 4665 Pebble Beach Dr., has opened its doors for farm animals to support South Okanagan livestock owners who were forced to evacuate their homes due to the Nk'Mip Creek wildfire burning near Osoyoos.

For more information, call 250-809-7152.

If you know of a business or community effort helping to provide wildfire evacuees with resources send us an email and we'll get the word out.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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