• Justin Pansacola

Answering the Call to Multiple Wildfires, The Salvation Army is Providing Assistance at Shelters

Thousand Oaks, CA. (October 30, 2019)  - The Thousand Oaks Community Center (2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks) saw an influx of evacuees as the nearby Easy Fire threatened thousands of homes. The Salvation Army, staffed with volunteers from theVentura Corps and Ventura Hope Center, was on site to serve 69 meals and provide spiritual ministry. It would be the 13th wildfire The Salvation Army would address or monitor in the last week.

This dry season has seen multiple wildfires pop up across Southern California, from Ventura County to Los Angeles County and Riverside County. The Easy Fire, currently at 1,491 acres and 5% containment as of Wednesday night, is among the newest.

“It’s been really hectic,” said Kevin White, Assistant Emergency Disaster Services Director. He had visited 7 evacuation shelters in the last 2 days. “But it’s an opportunity for people to come together and lift each other up.”

The Salvation Army has been coordinating a multi-pronged operation to address these recent wildfires – from feeding and comforting evacuees at overnight shelters; to providing recovery assistance at Local Assistance Centers (LACs); to remaining on stand-by so that we can arrive on scene when called upon by local authorities.

In response to the Tick Fire (4,615 acres, 94% contained) that destroyed 29 structures and damaged 44 others, The Salvation Army is on site at the City of Santa Clarita Activities Center LAC (20880 Centre Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita) from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM until November 4. The labor and assistance in just one day would be valued at approximately $4,235. In response to the Sandalwood and Saddle Ridge Fires that destroyed a combined 93 structures and damaged 104 structures, The Salvation Army was on site at the LACs earlier this month. As of October 30, $21,475 of financial assistance were distributed to people affected by the wildfires.

Meanwhile, The Salvation Army is currently on stand-by to meet the need at two wildfires in the Inland Empire: the 46 Fire (300 acres, 5% contained) in Riverside County and Hillside Fire (200 acres) in San Bernardino County. Five other wildfires (Whittier, Soledad, Brea, Mureau and Water) were contained while The Salvation Army personnel remained on stand-by.

As the dry season continues, The Salvation Army is expected to continue operations at evacuation shelters as called upon. The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services team is able to respond on short notice thanks to donations. For more information on our response efforts or to donate, please click here.

Donations - During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs including the ability to purchase meals and key distribution center items to support the local economy. Plus, The Salvation Army uses 100 percent of all donations designated ‘disaster relief’ in support of disaster operations. To donate, click here.