As summer nears an end, preparing for school is now having added complications caused by the McDougall Creek wildfire.

Kevin Kaardal, superintendent/CEO of Central Okanagan Public Schools, said they are following the direction of the Emergency Operations Centre, which right now is providing school facilities to support the firefighting effort and provide an emergency lodging site.

鈥淲e have protocols in place and we are following that process as unfortunately (wildfires) are not something that is new to us,鈥� Kaardal said.

As there are schools within the evacuation alert zone, Kaardal says individual school records are being secured, teaching staff are being alerted if they wish to collect personal items in their classrooms, and adjustments are being made with operational staff scheduling.

鈥淏eyond the schools, we certainly have concerns for the safety of our staff and students who are within the evacuation areas,鈥� Kaardal added.

鈥淏ut the EOC people are experts at this so as a school district we follow their lead and do what is asked of us to be done.鈥�

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