Red Cross trying to find beds for 200 wildfire evacuees

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Fewer than 200 of about 4,500 Manitoba forest fire evacuees were still without a hotel room Friday afternoon — and the Banjo Bowl was part of the problem.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/09/2017 (2961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fewer than 200 of about 4,500 Manitoba forest fire evacuees were still without a hotel room Friday afternoon — and the Banjo Bowl was part of the problem.

“When we book people, we want to make sure they can stay for at least five days because we don’t want to book them in and move them right away,” Canadian Red Cross spokesman Jason Small said.

But hotels get busy with events on weekends, such as CFL fans arriving for today’s “Banjo Bowl” rivalry game, which pits the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The WSF Soccer North complex on Leila Avenue has become the temporary home for many wildfire evacuees. Evacuees Maggie Keno (from left); her nine-month-old daughter Jewels; Kloey Harper, 6; Janeda Day, 3; her mom, Jamie Day; Kloey’s mother Bonnie Beardy; and Bonnie’s son, Kleon Harper, 2. (Alexandra Paul / Winnipeg Free Press)
The WSF Soccer North complex on Leila Avenue has become the temporary home for many wildfire evacuees. Evacuees Maggie Keno (from left); her nine-month-old daughter Jewels; Kloey Harper, 6; Janeda Day, 3; her mom, Jamie Day; Kloey’s mother Bonnie Beardy; and Bonnie’s son, Kleon Harper, 2. (Alexandra Paul / Winnipeg Free Press)

Evacuees are staying in hotels in Winnipeg and Brandon, plus a few were moved Thursday to Selkirk. About 40 are in Thompson, where they are receiving specialized medical treatment, Small said.

All meals for evacuees are paid for by the federal government, and each receives a hygiene kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant. Evacuees also get small payments to tide them over, also funded by Ottawa.

Adults receive $4 a day, paid in five-day increments of $20. Children receive $3.20 per day.

As well, after five days, evacuees receive a voucher of $120 for an adult and $100 for a child. The vouchers can be redeemed only for items such as clothing, toiletries or baby supplies.

— staff

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