• Captain Ernest Hull

Comanche County Wildlife Preserve Receives Assistance

Altus & Lawton, OK – The Salvation Army of Altus & Lawton, Oklahoma responded to wildfires that affected Comanche County and the Wildlife Preserve on Tuesday and Wednesday.  On Tuesday evening, Lt. Joe Price received a call for assistance.   With the help of the ministerial alliance in Altus and other volunteers, 300 sandwiches were made and put together with chips and fruit and served to students evacuated from the Job Corps on the Wichita Wildlife Preserve Center.  On Wednesday, Captains Debra and Ernie Hull assisted with preparing food as well.   Food and hydration was also served to the numerous responders involved in the firefighting.

Since Tuesday, 428 meals and over 500 snacks have been served.  Twelve volunteers and four officers have been involved in the response.  On Thursday morning, Captain Ernie Hull will be attending a briefing with the new Incident Command at the Wildlife Preserve center where hundreds of acres are burning.  The area is very rocky and hilly and proving very difficult to fight the fires with winds gusting over 30 miles per hour.

Depending on the results of the early morning meeting on Thursday, the Lawton canteen will serve as needed until the service is no longer needed.  The Salvation Army will remain available for further assistance until the wildfire is completely contained.

Financial donations are needed to support disaster relief efforts.  The Salvation Army asks those who want to help to visit www.salvationarmyusa.orgor call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and designate AOK Division wildfires.  Monetary donations will ensure The Salvation Army can meet the most immediate needs of those impacted by disaster.  Donations can also be mailed to:  The Salvation Army, 1306 SE “E” Avenue, Lawton, OK  73507.

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About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.