Category: Fires

On March 26 around twenty Sunstone Town homes in southeast Colorado Springs were destroyed by a three-alarm fire caused by carelessly-discarded live cigarettes. Three people were taken to the hospital, and more than 70 residents were displaced. Cathy Kissner, Adventist Community Services Director, reported about ACS’s response to the tragedy. “We are greatly saddened by the loss of the town homes in the Colorado Springs area and our team from Colorado Springs, Woodland Park, and Pueblo are working together, along with the community, to help the families re-establish normalcy,” Kissner said. “Our primary objective is to show the love of the Father to his hurting children,” she added.

A collection Distribution Center was open from 8 am – 6 pm at the nearby Springs Adventist Academy. The standard needs of the survivors were personal hygiene items, paper plates, paper cups, paper towels, plastic silverware, and new air mattresses. “As an agency, we are connecting a home-schooling family with the home-school association in Colorado Springs,” Kissner added. ACS also partnered with the Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, and the LDS Church where each organization supported a specific need. Monetary donations are being encouraged now to support the relief efforts since many in-kind donation centers have filled up quickly.

The State of California has lately been experiencing massive wildfires in the southern region. Two deaths have been reported out of which one was a firefighter. Over 200,000 people had evacuated their areas last week. The devastating fires also resulted in heavy damage of homes, cattle, and property. President Trump has declared an emergency in California and ordered additional federal aid to coordinate the relief efforts.

We have been in contact with the ACS Disaster Response Coordinator for the Pacific Union Conference, Charlene Sargent, since the Thomas Fire began. The ACS Disaster Response Teams are on standby until the fires are better contained. We are staying abreast of the situation in California and looking for additional ways we can help the community during their time of need.

Here’s what to do when you’re preparing to evacuate.

A 24-story apartment complex in London got caught on fire early Tuesday morning, June 13. Several charity organizations and agencies were seen on the ground providing immediate assistance to those who were affected by this unforeseen tragedy, one of them being the South England Conference Community Services Department. The staff helped out on the scene by distributing food and clothes. ADRA UK has also been involved by providing the funds for much-needed supplies.

Read more information here on the work that Adventist organizations are doing to provide relief to the victims and their families.

The State of Tennessee has been devastated by wildfires that ravaged parts of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge more than a week ago. Our Southern Union Conference has also been affected by these fires. The GA-Cumberland Conference has taken up the main responsibility for this area. ACS DR Coordinator Terry Haight is in search of a building that can be utilized for setting up a Warehouse. In addition, the GA-Cumberland Conference was able to gain access to the town of Pigeon Forge to assess the needs of the community. As they drove through the area the smoke was hanging very low and visibility was down to roughly 10 feet, making it difficult for work to be done in such conditions.

Here is a report from local news coverage:

• Damage assessments continue in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevier County in the wake of wildfires that killed seven people and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.
• Firefighters are striving hard to extinguish as many as 14 remaining blazes as rain brings some relief to the area. The fires covered more than 15,000 acres at its peak.
• As many as 14,000 visitors and residents in Sevier County and Gatlinburg were forced to evacuate ahead of the blaze.
• State law enforcement has set up a hotline for people to report missing family and friends.

Let us remember those who have been affected by this tragedy.

Intense wildfires raged through the State of California over the weekend, resulting in significant amount of loss and damage. The official estimate on the Clayton fires in Lake County as of Aug 16 (Tuesday) morning is: 4,000 acres, 20% contained, & 175 structures destroyed. This is significant in that it has been only 5% contained for a few days and the size remains about the same! Damin Anthony Pashilk (40), who is suspected of starting the fires, is charged with 17 counts of arson in Lake County including the 4,000 acres.

Fire teams across northern California are deploying strike teams to attempt to extinguish the fires as soon as possible. NAD ACS Disaster Response director, W. Derrick Lea, will be meeting with Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) to coordinate assistance for Recovery efforts from other faith based organizations. Several schools and Adventist churches in Lake County are actively involved in the Clayton Fire Evacuation Centers, providing support and assistance for the evacuees. The Lakeport Church has opened its doors to the survivors and had about 15 individuals on the first night. They are being assisted by the Red Cross. The Middletown Adventist Church and Kelseyville High School have also agreed to allow the Red Cross to house volunteers.

Please let us remember the families and survivors that are going through this tragedy.

UPDATE: May 18, 2016

ADRA Canada & Adventist Community Services teams have been busy working with a number of local church leaders. The Edmonton South SDA Church is the primary responder in Edmonton and they collected items from around the city which was delivered to those affected by the wild fires.

The teams also met with the students at the Chinook Winds Academy in Calgary and thanked them for all their help with donations and support of their neighbors who are experiencing crisis. The Galgary Bridgeland SDA Church donated supplies for the survivors.

The operation of a warehouse should be finalized today. The warehouse will hold the donated goods that will be made available to groups that run Emergency Distribution Centers that provides the items to meet the immediate needs of individuals and families.

Please continue to pray for the personnel and volunteers as they continue to serve and help those affected.

---

May 6, 2016

ADRA Canada and the Alberta Conference Adventist Community Services (ACS) are offering assistance to those affected by the Fort McMurray fires. ADRA Canada and the Alberta Conference ACS joined together a few years ago to purchase a disaster response vehicle/trailer. That vehicle has been filled with supplies which will be delivered to those affected by this disaster. Local Alberta Conference churches will be providing volunteers. Local families have also opened their homes to the displaced. ADRA Canada has also partnered with GlobalMedic to send hygiene kits containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and a towel to 2,000 people. Assistance from the Alberta Conference ACS and ADRA Canada will continue in the upcoming days.”

“We have received confirmation from individuals who were able to drive by the Fort McMurray Seventh-day Adventist Church that it appears to be intact. We continue to monitor reports regarding the well being of our Adventist families in the community and the condition of their homes. We will share more information when it is available.” – Lyle Notice, ADRA/Adventist Community Services Disaster Response Alberta Conference

Here are some quick points.

• The fire is still raging in Fort McMurray
• 88,000 people have been evacuated
• Many residents have lost homes
• Most residents have been evacuated and have been relocated to the city of Edmonton, with several hundred more displaced victims being directed there later today.
• There is a reception center in place at Northlands
• Edmonton South Church has also opened up its doors to displaced victims and are hosting several families
• As for our immediate response the ADRA Trailer will be headed with several volunteers to Northlands and Edmonton South Church today to drop off care kits, sleeping bags, pillows and water
• Northlands Reception Center will be heavily in need of pillows, bedding/sleeping bags, baby formula care kits. If you have any of these items please direct them to the Edmonton South Church
• ADRA and Alberta Adventist Community Services will be more heavily involved with many volunteers in the Short Term Post Disaster Recovery Phase, this will be several days after the fire has stopped and it is safe to enter the disaster zone.

To financially support the relief efforts in Fort McMurray through the Adventist church you may do so using the following options:

Option #1: Adventist Giving

Donate using Adventist Giving: www.albertaadventist.ca/online-giving. Designate funds to: AB Disaster Relief

Option #2: ADRA Canada

Visit www.adra.ca and donate online.

Please pray for all the displaced people and families along with the relief personnel and volunteers.

Check out this video for more details on the Adventist Church Center and the services it’s providing!

Dear Beloved Church Family, There is wonderful news regard the [NAME NOT PUBLISHED]’s family. “We are doing ok, our whole family is together desperately searching for a home. …” [This Sabbath the Middletown church will be meeting outdoors on their property as the Red Cross is using their facility and sanctuary as a shelter for volunteers.] The activities on Sabbath will be behind the church sanctuary. Please don’t use the church building as there will be individual sleeping inside. We will use the restrooms at the school. Elder and Mrs Pedersen, with Stephanie Leal, Julie Lorenz, Jeff Klam, and Ed Fargussen came up to visit our Middletown church today. I had just finished up a special time with MAS Students, as we lowered our flag at half mast in honor of Bruce Burns. Debi Pedersen brought a cake in honor of [Middletown Adventist School Principal] Lottie’s birthday, and was enough for all the students to have a snack together. What a thoughtful gesture. Lottie shared that they had root beer floats yesterday which Lynal Ingham, our education associate superintendent, brought up. … met with [NCC Risk Management Director] Jeff Klam and inspected the property together, and I am sure by now more than one of you have been called to help with some of the projects on our campus. We were given a tour by the Red Cross of part of our church and fellowship hall, and had to keep our voices down as there were some sleeping, because they had volunteered for the night shift. There are volunteers that have come from all over the United States, and it is very interesting to get acquainted with them and to thank them for leaving their homes to share with our communities. … Tonight the updated numbers of structures destroyed in the Valley Fire from Cal Fire: 1,910 with 76,067 acres burned and 82% contained this evening.

The above message was taken from nccsda.com from a post on September 23rd, 2015. [For privacy concerns, some names are not published]

Check out this article regarding that #ValleyFires. Look at ACS’s efforts to respond!

If you have more stories or pictures to share of what your community is doing to help, let m us know! email us at acs@nadadventist.org