Posts Tagged ‘wildfires’

Video courtesy of Fox News

Wildfires that broke out Monday in Boulder, Colorado’s Fourmile Canyon continue to blaze, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes and leaving 3,500 acres of land charred. About 100 fire fighters were on the scene yesterday battling the flames. The cause of the fire is unknown, and high winds have made it difficult to tame.

The Salvation Army has been called on to help serve first responders who are working to contain the disaster. Those first responders include fire fighters, law enforcement, Emergency Medical Technicians and the command and control staff that is coordinating the fire efforts at the command center. By providing food, drinks and emotional support, The Salvation Army provides much needed nourishment as these crews work around the clock.

The Salvation Army served more than 450 dinners last night to emergency personnel and 300 hearty breakfasts including omelets, hash browns, sausage patty, coffee, juice and fruit were served early this morning.

First responders will also be provided lunch and dinner today by The Salvation Army. The mobile kitchen and cold truck will remain on site as long as necessary to support this effort.

We certainly hope that the fires will be contained quickly so that more homes and buildings are not claimed by the blaze. Thankfully, there have been no reported fatalities as a result of the fire.

If you’d like to support The Salvation Army’s fire relief efforts, visit imsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and earmark the donation for Emergency Disaster Services.

The Southern California Division of The Salvation Army reports that it is continuing its disaster response to the Station and Auburn wildfires as firefighters are gaining the upper hand on the deadly blaze.

“The Station Fire is the largest wildfire in the history of Los Angeles County having consumed more than 140,000 acres (218 square miles),” they report.  “To date it has also destroyed 92 houses and other structures worth $14 million and has cost more than $20 million to fight. But favorable weather conditions have helped fire fighters increase containment of the blaze from 5 percent on Monday to more than 22 percent by late Tuesday.”

Since the Army began its efforts last Saturday, more than 1500 meals have been served.  Volunteers and Army staff and Officers continue to provide physical and spiritual nourishment to the growing number of displaced.

Looking ahead though, the Army knows that it will need continued donations in order to fulfill its commitment of long-term support for the many evacuees.

Monetary donations remain the most pressing need, but donations of food, personal items and time are also needed.  The SoCal division is also soliciting new volunteers so that its efforts can be even stronger for future emergency needs.

Truly, the work and mission of the Army means that people from all walks of life can support the Army in whichever way suits them best: apply to be an on-site volunteer; if you’re in the area, drop off goods at one of the emergency shelters; or donate money online directly to the cause.

How will you choose to help the Army ensure a ‘good’ future for these and other disaster survivors?

Even as response efforts continue for those affected by the Station Fire in California, The Salvation Army is now also responding to the 49er Fire in Auburn.

The Salvation Army Del Oro Division reports that a Disaster Response Team is on-scene at The Salvation Army receiving monetary and food donations for the fire victims.  Monetary donations are much needed and can be dropped off at The Salvation Army’s Corps Community Center at 286 Sutter Street in Auburn from 9:00am-4:00pm Monday-Friday, or mailed to the following address: P.O. Box 4088, Auburn, CA 95604.  Or, donate online by logging on to www.tsatoday.org.

“Auburn’s mobile kitchen is on standby ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice,” the statement said.  Mobile kitchens are capable of serving hundreds of meals per day.  On Sunday night alone,  Auburn’s mobile kitchen served over 400 hot meals and 900 drinks to fire evacuees and first responders.

The Salvation Army officers and staff will continue supporting those affected by these deadly wildfires.  In the short-term, they will focus primarily on the immediate needs of disaster survivors and first-responders, but long-term support and resources will hinge heavily on the kindness of others and their donations.

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by the 49er Fire to visit www.tsatoday.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Monetary donations are needed to meet survivors’ most immediate needs.  Donations are used to purchase necessary items that are most needed at that moment in time based on the unique needs of affected individuals and families.  The Auburn Journal has listed other ways you can help, too.

For those of us who can’t be there to do something, we can do this: make donations to help further the response efforts of the Army and help ensure a more dependable future for those affected.

Daniel Bouchard of the Thousand Trails R.V. Community, checked in at Golden Valley High School today as a Station Fire evacuee today with two of his sons. The family enjoyed lunch, compliments of The Salvation Army. (Photo courtesy of SoCal Salvation Army)

KCRA 3 News in Sacramento, Calif., followed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as he toured some of the destruction in Auburn, Calif., left in the wake of the northern California wildfires.

On Monday, he expressed sympathy to those who’d lost their homes in the fires.

“It’s painful to see the devastation,” Schwarzenegger told reporters after a visit to the fire area.  “My heart goes out to these people.”

Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency for several counties affected by the wildfire.  As of late Monday evening, The Salvation Army of Southern California had reported that the Station Fire has doubled in size to 85,000 acres and claimed the lives of two firefighters.

On the scene since Saturday, the SoCal Salvation Army is now supporting all 6 of the emergency shelters for fire evacuees throughout the affected region. (Follow our response efforts on the SoCal Salvation Army Twitter feed!)

As the fire rages on, support is flowing in from across the country.  Firemen from other locales are California-bound and Americans the country over are sending their well-wishes to those affected and those responding.

But we can do more.  Monetary donations are the most pressing need.  And tangible donations – food, pet food, clothing, etc. – can help ensure The Army’s ability to offer long-term recovery support to those affected by the wildfires.

Monetary donations can be made directly to the SoCal Army here, via 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or by sending a check to your local Salvation Army with “Southern California Wildfires” in the memo line.

We’re all doing something – praying, hoping – but together we can do The Most Good.

Bellaire, OH — As you can imagine with a fire like this, many families are left without the essentials.

And that’s when the Salvation Army kicks into high gear.

As soon as they learned the fire had started, the Salvation Army’s mobile canteen truck was on site to aid, not only the families, but the firefighters, as well.

Now, they need your help in getting needed supplies to those left homeless. The Salvation Army is asking for everything from clothing to money to aid these families.

Bellaire Salvation Army Captain Louis Patrick said, “we have a forty two bed shelter, here and we only have twenty seven people staying here so I have room for them to stay right here which will help alleviate some of the costs if they have to stay in a hotel or somewhere else. In addition, we’ll help them with clothing.”

If you would like to donate items, you can drop them off at the Salvation Army headquarters in Bellaire at 315 37th Street.

By Jim Forbes
The State Journal Newspaper
Belmont County, Ohio