(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - As evacuees from across the province are beginning to go home, social service centres are no longer in as high demand.

Megan Gregory with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Emergency Operations Centre says the city has approved the emergency social services reception centre at the Sandman Centre until Sept. 6, but they're prepared to be there longer.

"At the moment, because of recent changes to evacuation orders and alerts, no one is staying in group lodging," Gregory says. "Residents that have been evacuated can still access services."

Because no one is staying in group lodging anymore, Gregory says volunteers are cleaning and preparing in case lodging is needed again, but they hope to be packing up soon.

It's a similar situation in Kelowna, where the Central Okanagan Regional District has an emergency support services reception centre set up on Sutherland Avenue.

Emergency Operations Centre public information officer Tom Wilson says the district is prepared to keep going until the third week of September but will reassess as needed.

But Wilson says traffic at the reception centre has been dramatically slower than a few weeks ago, seeing about five to 15 people per day at this point.

The City of Vernon's ESS reception centre is open until Aug. 29, and after that evacuees who still need to access resources will be referred to the City's community services building.

The City's ESS and Emergency Program coordinator Luana Kaleikini says although no evacuees are staying in group lodging at this point, cots and sleeping materials will be stored locally in case they're needed again.

Over the past few weeks, residents evacuated from areas like Clinton, Cache Creek, and 100 Mile House have slowly been allowed back home. But since fire activity can change at any time, evacuation centres need to be prepared.

For the latest on evacuation orders and alerts, check in with your regional district.

For information on Kelowna's ESS reception centre, go here.

For more information on Kamloops's ESS reception centre, go here.

For more information on Vernon's ESS reception centre, go here.

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