-
100
fire related disasters in Yakima
County
Red Cross busy
with local and Okanogan area fires
SUNNYSIDE (Saturday,
7-29-00)---Local American Red Cross volunteers, who
have kept busy the past few days responding to several
Yakima Valley fires, also are responding to a large
blaze burning in Okanogan.
Over the past weekend, Red
Cross volunteers responded to help victims of two
single-family fires, as well as to provide meals and
beverages to emergency personnel at a third fire on
Cleman Mountain north of Naches.
These fires bring the
total number of Yakima County disasters--to which the
Red cross has responded--to four single-family and
four brush fires.
Two volunteers also have
left to provide assistance to a large fire burning in
Okanogan County (#
17 on state
map).
The two will deliver a Red
Cross Emergency Response Vehicle from Yakima, carrying
cots and blankets that will be used to shelter
evacuated families.
One of these two
volunteers was also part of a group of four Yakima Red
Cross volunteers that provided assistance in Benton
County to the Hanford
Wildfires
relief effort at the first of this
month.
"The number of fire
disasters the Red Cross is responding to in our area
this year is extraordinary," said Bill Combs, Director
of Emergency Services for the Yakima Valley Chapter.
"It has already been a busy summer for fires and we
are really just starting the traditionally dangerous
period. This season is really stretching both our
volunteer and financial resources."
Since July of 1999, the
Red Cross has responded to help victims and provide
aid to emergency personnel in more than 100
fire-related disasters in Yakima County. This is more
than double the number to which the local Red Cross
responded during the previous time
period.
Individuals interested in
becoming a trained American Red Cross volunteer to
help in local or national disasters can contact the
Yakima Valley Chapter at
(509)
457-1690.
All American Red Cross
disaster assistance is free, made possible by
voluntary donations of time and money from the
American people and people of the Yakima
Valley.
To assist victims of these
and other disasters in the Yakima Valley, financial
contributions can be made to the local disaster relief
fund by calling
(509)
457-1690 or
mailing checks to American Red Cross, POB 1768,
Yakima, WA 98908.
- Call
the Red Cross
- Get prepared
for wildfires
SUNNYSIDE (Saturday,
7-29-00)---With several recent wildfires threatening
homes in the Yakima Valley, the American Red Cross is
urging people to take steps to prepare their families
and homes for fire danger.
Individuals interested in
learning more about developing a family disaster plan
or specific steps to prepare for wildfires may call
the Yakima Valley Chapter at
(509)
457-1690 or come
into the red Cross offices at 302 S. Second Ave.,
Yakima.
Materials also are
available at the Lower Valley Office at 340 S. 6th
St., Sunnyside, phone (509) 836-2888.
The Red Cross will also
provide training sessions about disaster preparedness
to community groups or organizations. Presentations
can focus on a variety of topics including wildfire
preparedness. Presentations are free of charge and can
be arranged by calling the disaster office at your
local Red Cross.
All American Red Cross
disaster assistance is free, made possible by
voluntary donations of time and money from the
American people and people of the Yakima Valley. To
assist victims of these and other disasters in the
Yakima Valley, financial contributions can be made to
the local disaster relief fund by calling
(509)
457-1690 or
mailing checks to the American Red Cross, POB 1768,
Yakima, WA 98908.