Recovery managers hired to aid B.C. wildfire relief efforts

Five new positions have been created throughout B.C.'s Interior to manage recovery and aid following the province's worst wildfire season in recorded history.

• Full B.C. wildfire coverage

TheCaribooRegional District has hired one recovery managerto oversee the entire district, and the municipalities of 100 Mile House, Williams Lake,QuesnelandWellshave also established positions.

"It's a pretty meaningful position," said Stephanie Masun, the recovery manager for the Cariboo Regional District.

"I was wondering over the course of the events this summer what my role could be in this."

The recovery managers will work independently andtogether to find out what resources are needed to help those impacted by the wildfires rebuild their lives.

Part of their duties will include attending consultation meetings and contacting government and other agencies with assistance requests. Since Masun started her job on Oct. 24, she's attended several community meetings and fielded dozens of phone calls.

• Wildfire feedback meetings to begin October29 in Cariboo

"This is too important. It's not something you can do off the side of your desk," said Al Richmond, chair of the Cariboo Regional District.

These positions are set to run until the end of March 2018, but Richmond expects them to be needed longer.

Contact information for all five recovery managerscan be found on the Cariboo Regional District's website.