One in a ten-part series showcasing the volunteerism, community and resilience surrounding those evacuated due to the wildfires engulfing parts of the B.C. Interior.

As they wonder what鈥檚 lost and what will remain after the wildfires are tamed, one evacuee in Penticton has found solace through faith in her community.

100 Mile House evacuee Rebecca Johnson said she鈥檚 confident that when the community moves back into the area, whatever is lost will be rebuilt.

Johnson is one of 132 evacuees from various fires are making Penticton their temporary home after the regional district opened up its emergency social services centre last weekend.

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Opening up the doors to the Penticton Community Centre gymnasium was the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen鈥檚 answer to a call for more beds after Williams Lake was ordered evacuated on Saturday. Now the city has set up around 400 cots, which line the concourse in the South Okanagan Events Centre.

That鈥檚 on top of dozens of beds open to housing evacuees in various motels and hotels 鈥� wherever rooms are available 鈥� throughout the city.

But Johnson has been in the city for over a week. She and her husband left 100 Mile House on July 7, after seeing a report that the B.C. Wildfire Service was seeing fires coming in faster than they could report them.

鈥淢y husband had injured himself and couldn鈥檛 walk and 鈥� and I鈥檓 disabled, so I thought it was probably wise just to get out of Dodge,鈥� Johnson said, adding that they took nothing because of her disability and his injury.

鈥淚t felt like we were abandoning our community; that was probably the hardest thing. But we weren鈥檛 much help there in the condition we were in. So, that was the hardest thing was to leave the community before it had actually been evacuated,鈥� she said.

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100 Mile was evacuated within a day or two of their departure, and Johnson said she鈥檚 still in the dark about who has and who hasn鈥檛 been affected by the blaze near 100 Mile House, referred to the Gustafsen wildfire.

But that鈥檚 likely for the best, Johnson added. Keep energy on fighting the fires and tally up the losses in the end, she suggested.

鈥淲e鈥檙e people of faith, so we trust God, and we trust that, though it seems overwhelming, that everyone 鈥� the firefighters, the pilots, the volunteers 鈥� we trust that they are absolutely doing their very best for us. So, we鈥檙e really, really blessed and grateful,鈥� she said, adding that a loss of a house in the community is a loss for everyone.

鈥淪omeone [who] taught your kids, or it鈥檚 your best friend鈥檚 cousin or, you know. It鈥檚 a small community. But we鈥檙e 100 Mile strong and we鈥檒l support those that have lost what they鈥檝e lost and we鈥檒l pull together, I have no doubt.鈥�

But the sense of community for evacuees doesn鈥檛 just stop at their physical community 鈥� in line for hours at the Kamloops evacuation centre, Johnson said she saw community and support form among strangers.

鈥淵ou just look at them and they know and you know, and not a lot has to be explained. They鈥檙e all in the same place. Life鈥檚 turned upside down very quickly and they鈥檙e worried for their neighbours and themselves and their community,鈥� she said.

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She considered one evacuee in particular whom she and her husband met during their lengthy wait in Kamloops, who had been feeling weary from chemotherapy.

Johnson said she was a few hundred ahead of that man in the queue, but when she and her husband made note of the man鈥檚 situation to local staff, he was expedited through the queue.

鈥淢ost people are, even suffering like that, are waiting quietly for their turn, and it may be the next day or the day after,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e sick and stuff, the process needs to be speeded up.鈥�

There鈥檚 no lack of gratitude for the work being done in Kamloops, where thousands of evacuees have flocked from the Thompson-Nicola and Cariboo regions.

鈥淭he volunteers were working their heinies off. Just really comforting, really encouraging. They were a really soft place to land; all the volunteers were doing an amazing job,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e were really grateful.鈥�

Johnson said she came down to Penticton, knowing it was likely to be a long time before they would be able to go back home. Johnson said she has family in the area of Penticton, where she and her husband came early last week.

With any luck, Johnson鈥檚 stay in Penticton may not last 鈥� Monday evening, Cariboo Regional District and 100 Mile authorities said they are reviewing the evacuation order for the area.

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For now, Johnson said there鈥檚 little information out there as to what has actually been lost and what remains in the community.

鈥淩ight now, we just need to take it one day at a time and get through, and they鈥檙e busy,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hey鈥檒l give accurate information about what鈥檚 been lost when they can, and we have to trust that, too. They are doing their very best.鈥�