The White Rock Creek wildfire near Monte Lake, Aug. 5, 2021.

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The White Rock Lake wildfire ripped through the Monte Lake area over a month ago, but some residents are still waiting on funds that were promised to help them with their daily expenses.

Paxton Valley resident Ashlynn Kruesel said she received $1,200 from Canadian Red Cross on Aug. 17, but an additional $800 for residents whose property was damaged hasn't arrived.

When she called the Red Cross on Sept. 13 to ask when she would get those funds, she was met with a combative employee.

"There was no compassion at all," Kruesel said. "If I'm entitled to this money, we need it. I've had to miss work and deal with the fire and my property. It's frustrating when you're trying to move past it."

Kruesel admitted her frustration came through while explaining to the Red Cross employee their situation and why she was calling to ask about the grant.

"She told me if I'd like to talk to myself, I could hang up the phone," Kruesel said, and that was when she decided to call her MLA's office where staff learned she would find out whether or not she will get the funding in a matter of days.

READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: The devastation left behind by the White Rock Lake wildfire near Vernon

On Aug. 25, the provincial government announced that residents affected by wildfires could receive up to $2,000 in funding through a partnership with the Red Cross. Residents under evacuation orders for 10 or more days would receive $1,200.

Those who were "severely affected" through property damage, or those evacuated from the Lytton area, would receive the total $2,000.

In a few days, Kruesel will find out if she qualifies as "severely affected," but will not necessarily receive that funding yet - nearly six weeks after the White Rock Lake wildfire took her garage, well, irrigation system, multiple other buildings and the property inside.

Kruesel lives with her husband, and they're grateful their home is still standing.

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The Red Cross funds may not help them rebuild, nor will it replace the sentimental things they lost in the wildfire, she said it will help replace essential items they weren't prepared to pay for and to keep up with bills.

While she missed some time working due to the wildfire, the $1,200 grant helped her and her husband buy groceries. It will also help them pay for things like winter tires which burnt when the blaze tore through their garage.

On top of that, she was surprised to learn too late that their home insurance had expired before wildfire season came.

"It doesn't seem like much, but it's better than nothing," Kruesel said.

Part of the delay may be because the Red Cross was waiting for damage assessments from the Thompson Nicola Regional District. Kruesel was told the first assessment from the regional district was "inconclusive" and had to be done again.

Regional district board chair Ken Gillis told iNFOnews.ca that he had heard from residents that the Red Cross was still waiting on those property assessments so they can properly determine who would receive the funds.

"When people applied for the top up, they were told the Red Cross needed the damage assessment before they would do that. Our (chief administrative officer) said as far as he knows they've received that information," Gillis told iNFOnews.ca, Sept. 14. "It should have been looked after at least a week ago."

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A Canadian Red Cross spokesperson told iNFOnews.ca that the funding will be complete in the coming days.

"We understand this is a stressful time and Canadian Red Cross has been working closely with (Emergency Management B.C.) to provide the additional financial assistance as quickly as possible," Canadian Red Cross spokesperson Angela Hill said in an email.

"As the structural loss information is received from (Emergency Management B.C.), the Canadian Red Cross has been providing the additional funds to those who are registered with the Red Cross and whose primary residence has been severely impacted by this season’s wildfires. This process will be completed in the coming days."

Despite waiting for the additional $800, Kruesel said she is back to much of her day-to-day life. She is thankful the community of Monte Lake came together to support each other during the disaster..

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