As Fires Burn, Red Cross Brings Relief to Weary California

    A busy disaster season continues with the response to California

wildfires



    WASHINGTON, July 17 /EMWNews/ -- The California

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection today reported 80 active

wildfires still burning in parts of California where the American Red Cross

has opened 17 shelters since early June to help those who have been

affected by the fires.



    The Red Cross relief operation has served more than 21,000 meals and

snacks, and distributed more than 1,100 comfort kits, all of this

accomplished by hundreds of Red Cross disaster relief workers on the scene.

Red Cross chapters throughout the state are also responding to additional

smaller, more localized fires to provide food, shelter and emotional

support to California residents in need of help. More than 870,000 acres

have burned in the state since June 20, according to the CAL FIRE web site.



    In addition, the Red Cross effort has shifted to the recovery phase of

the operation in some areas, including opening of a service center for

disaster victims. Victims can let an interviewer at the service center know

what they need, and receive assistance for such things as food, clothing,

and other necessities. Counseling and referrals to other resources will

also be available. Specially trained Red Cross volunteers can help victims

replace eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, or prescriptions lost in the

disaster. The direct distribution sites will be giving affected residents

clean-up items and small amounts of non-perishable foods.



    These fires are just part of the massive disaster efforts taking place

across America in response to this summer's busy flood, fire and tornado

season. Since the beginning of April, the Red Cross has responded to more

than 36 disasters across the nation. Now, an early fire season brings Red

Cross disaster workers to the west coast to help weary residents and fire

fighters. These disasters occur as the Atlantic hurricane season moves into

its height.



    Those seeking more information about assistance or shelter locations

should call the Red Cross toll free at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).



    BECOME A VOLUNTEER



    For this response, the American Red Cross is currently relying on the

hundreds of volunteers, who are already trained to respond during a

disaster. To find out how you can become a trained Red Cross volunteer and

assist in future disasters, please call 1-800-RED CROSS.



    FINANCIAL DONATIONS



    All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by

voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can

help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year,

disasters like wildfires in California, by making a financial gift to the

American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to

provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of

disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to

designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of

your donation. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish).

Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local

American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243,

Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution

by visiting http://www.redcross.org.

    About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds

and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's

blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and

their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization -- not a

government agency -- and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the

American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information,

please visit http://www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://www.redcrosschat.org.