Seniors from an Oregon assisted living facility who were displaced by wildfires are staying at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver.
Residents of Davenport Place in Silverton, Ore., a town just east of Salem, Ore., were only able to take a pillowcase full of belongings before evacuating, said Tarin Elliott. She’s the life enrichment coordinator at Evergreen Place in east Vancouver, a sister building to Davenport Place, which are both owned by Enlivant.
Seventeen residents were brought to the Heathman Lodge on Tuesday evening.
An Enlivant community in the Southern Oregon community of Talent was evacuated, and residents were taken to a hotel in Carlton, Ore., in Yamhill County, but it also had to be evacuated. Fourteen residents were then taken to the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel.
Louis Kievit, a spokesman for Enlivant, said Friday that some staff and family members are also staying in the hotels. Some residents went to stay with family.
“The good news is, our residents are in good condition and good spirits,” Kievit said. “We do have staff members who’ve lost everything.”
Many left their communities with just the clothes on their backs.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of loss,” Kievit said.
Enlivant was told there is not fire damage at Davenport Place. However, police told Enlivant the exterior of the Talent, Ore., facility, Suncrest Place, has exterior damage.
Elliott said a Facebook post seeking caregivers and supplies for those displaced by the fires resulted in an outpouring of donations including snacks, clothing and arts and crafts supplies. She took vanloads of donations to the Heathman and Sheraton.
“It’s nice to see the community coming together when there’s so much negativity,” she said Thursday evening. “My phone has been ringing all day today. … At this point, we’re not needing anything else.”
It’s unclear how long residents will remain at the hotels. They’re among thousands of Oregon residents displaced by wildfires who are seeking refuge farther north.
