Oh, baby: B.C. wildfire evacuee families welcome newborns

Ten tiny newborns have made the days a little brighter for families forced out of their homes by B.C.'s wildfire emergency this month.

At least eight babies have been born to evacuee families in Prince George, and there have been another two or more born in Kamloops, health authorities confirmed Friday. More may have been born with the help of midwives in private homes,

One of those newborns is little Talia Gilpin Hink, born July 12 in Prince George. Her mother, Olivia Hink, was taken by ambulance from Williams Lake before that city was evacuatedbut hasn't been able to return.

"I wasn't really expecting to have my baby in Prince George," Hink said.

Her three older children have been keeping busy thanks to some helpful volunteers, but Hink is eager for the evacuation order to be lifted in her home community, the Yunesit'in First Nation near Hanceville.

"People here are nice and kind and they help you out in any way they can," she said.

"I like it up here, but I really miss home."

In Prince George, health officials have a list of all the pregnant evacuees whose due dates are coming up, according to Northern Health spokeswoman Eryn Collins.

"We do expect there may be more deliveries before everything is said and done," Collins said.

"We're just ready to support their needs if their happy time arrives while they're our guests here."