Christian aid organizations are putting in extra effort this year, as raging wildfires have forced more than 50,000 British Columbia and Northwest Territories residents to flee their homes.

Samaritan’s Purse has sent teams to West Kelowna where more than 200 buildings have burned and a few thousand people remain displaced.

They’ve also set up and are operating an evacuation center in Kamloops for evacuated residents of the Shuswap area.

The group says a convoy of relief vehicles, including a Disaster Relief Unit tractor trailer, left Friday to equip volunteer teams to remove debris, haul away spoiled appliances, and help families sift through the ashes for surviving possessions.

It is also in contact with local churches to see how they can best support them as they serve their communities.