Vernon REALTOR® Helps Organize Emergency Donation Drive for Wildfire Evacuees

When the Bradley Creek wildfire spread rapidly through the North Okanagan area earlier this month, residents across the region—including members of the Okanagan Indian Band, residents along Westside Road and those in surrounding communities—were forced to evacuate with little warning. Strong winds caused the fire to move quickly, and some residents had only minutes to leave their homes and belongings behind. By Thursday, August 6, Vernon’s Emergency Support Services had assisted more than 2,600 evacuees as the community responded to the wildfire. 

For Kim Heizmann, a managing broker and REALTOR® with Oakwyn Realty Okanagan in Vernon, British Columbia, the situation raised an immediate question about how she could help. 

Heizmann, who has nearly 20 years of experience in real estate and currently serves as Chair of the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), initially took to social media to ask where she could volunteer.

As of August 17, more than 20,000 people have been forced to evacuate with more than 100 wildfires continuing to threaten communities across British Columbia. 

In response, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) launched a REALTORS Care® fundraising campaign in support of the Canadian Red Cross’ 2026 British Columbia Wildfires Appeal. REALTORS® can help those affected by making a donation through the appeal, with funds supporting immediate and ongoing relief, recovery and resilience efforts.

“I saw a need out there because I was looking on social media and seeing that there was a lot of people that had donations but didn't know where to take them,” said Heizmann.

Heizmann had an unused space at the back of her Vernon office and contacted the owners to ask if she could temporarily use it as a donation site. They agreed, and by late Sunday morning she and a few friends had set up the space and put out a call for donations.

The response was immediate. Donations began arriving within a couple of hours, and by Monday afternoon the space was full.

Community members brought blankets, bedding, clothing, hygiene products, diapers, wipes, baby supplies and toys. Around 20 volunteers helped initially, with a core group of about eight people continuing throughout the week. REALTORS® from Heizmann’s office and other Vernon brokerages also volunteered, while community members provided tables, trucks and other support.

“The volunteers that showed up were the ones that did all of the hard work,” said Heizmann. “They sorted and resorted everything. Initially it was ladies’ clothes in one corner, men’s clothes in another and kids’ in another, and then it got down to toddlers and infants in sizes and women’s and men’s in sizes. Everybody just came and kept continuing to sort.”

Once the space was organized, evacuees began coming through to find what they needed. Many had left their homes so quickly that they were unsure what to ask for, so volunteers helped them work through the basics, from toiletries and clothing to bedding and other essentials.

Heizmann says the experience was particularly difficult when hearing from people who had lost their homes and belongings. She recalls helping seniors with mobility challenges who had lost everything, as well as families who had escaped with only what they were wearing. Children who had lost their toys were also able to choose new ones, providing small moments of comfort during an otherwise difficult time.

Heizmann estimates that approximately 100 to 150 evacuees came through the temporary donation site during the week. By Friday afternoon, most of the supplies had been distributed, and larger donation locations had been established in the community. Remaining items were directed to other locations, including an evacuation site in Lake Country.

This response was one example of REALTORS® across the Okanagan region supporting their communities as wildfires continue to affect their home. Heizmann says she has seen REALTORS® in Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and other communities help sort and transport donations, provide trucks and labour, and establish donation sites of their own.

The need for support will extend well beyond the immediate emergency. While communities can mobilize quickly to provide essential supplies during an evacuation, those who have lost their homes will face a much longer recovery.

“I think we need to make sure that we keep it top of mind in order to support people long term, even though the support short term is extremely important,” said Heizmann. “Anybody who's lost a home has lost everything. Crisis doesn't last days, it lasts months and years sometimes.”

I think we need to make sure that we keep it top of mind in order to support people long term, even though the support short term is extremely important.”

Kim Heizmann, REALTOR®

Heizmann plans to continue supporting the community where she can, including helping connect people with volunteers, donations and other resources as needs arise. 

“I had the idea. I wanted to help. I had the space. But the volunteers, we worked as a team. It really was a team of people that cared and a community that cared that made it successful,” she said.