Indiana Region of American Red Cross Sends, Prepares Volunteers to Respond to Western Wildfires

INDIANAPOLIS — According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are currently 97 large wildfires across 13 western states (Montana, Idaho, Oregon, California, Washington, Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Minnesota). The American Red Cross is providing wildfire relief through shelters and evacuation centers, meals and snacks, and more. As the fires continuing to grow, so does the need for more volunteers to support relief efforts. The Indiana Region of the American Red Cross has sent two volunteers with more in the pipeline to be deployed.

“Our colleagues in the west are working around the clock to assist those who have been affected by this year’s unprecedented fire,” said Leslie Montgomery, Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross – Indiana Region. “Our volunteers are ready to deploy and assist responders to provide necessary resources needed to sustain support.”

PROVIDING SUPPORT DURING DISASTERS The Red Cross helps disaster victims secure a safe place to stay and provides food, emotional support and other assistance. More than one million times last year, a person relied on the Red Cross for a safe place to sleep after a disaster in the U.S. If anyone is interested in becoming a disaster action team member, visit www.redcross.org/dat for details.

About the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross:

The Indiana Region serves 104 counties across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois through its six-chapter areas: Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). For more information on the Indiana Region: www.redcross.org/indiana. Follow the Indiana Region on Twitter at: @INRedCross, on Instagram at: @indianaredcross or www.facebook.com/INRedCross.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

SOURCE: News release from American Red Cross