Three days after putting out a call for new Emergency Support Services volunteers, the City of Kamloops says it has closed the application process.

In a statement, City staff say it is because there have been over 250 applications that have come in since August 6 with volunteer training scheduled to run until August 14.

“The Emergency Support Services team thanks all of those who responded to the call for volunteers,” a statement from the City said. “The application is now closed and the team will be reaching out to those who have applied and have met the required qualifications.”

City staff say the 2021 wildfire season has been busy for the volunteers who have been providing short-term assistance like food, lodging, and clothes to British Columbians who have been forced from their homes because of fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergencies.

ESS Coordinator, Rebecca Cooke, says volunteers will be working directly with evacuees to support their ESS registration and provide referrals to necessary supports.

“We couldn’t provide the level of support to evacuees without their dedication, kindness, and extensive knowledge. We are very proud of these volunteers, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have them on our team,” Cooke said on Thursday.

So far this season, she notes 80 ESS volunteers and supporting partners have provided over 7,000 hours of support to evacuees since June 29.

With over 250 volunteer applications, the Emergency Support Services team thanks all of those who responded to the call for volunteers on August 6. The application is now closed and the team will be reaching out to those who have applied and have met the required qualifications. pic.twitter.com/AV55RoVflL

— City of Kamloops (@cityofkamloops) August 9, 2021