California wildfires — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Toa55
Over the past few days, six American Red Cross volunteers from Central Florida have been assisting those affected by fires in California.
The executive director of the American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Janice Moran, stated, “As Red Crossers, this is not an easy operation with so much devastation and so much loss.”
“They’ll be in various roles,” Moran indicated of the six Central Florida, California, volunteers. “Primarily in sheltering because that’s the greatest need at this point.”
They joined hundreds of other Red Cross volunteers from throughout the nation and have been there for a few days. Usually, the volunteers remain for two weeks. It might be possible to send out more Central Florida volunteers.
“This is going to be, yet again, unfortunately, a very long road,” Moran stated. “It will require a significant amount of our nationwide resources, including staff. It’s the six right now, as I mentioned, but it’s potential that we’ll be sending out additional individuals in the days, weeks, or even months ahead.”
Preventing house fires
The destruction in California serves as a reminder to firefighters in Central Florida of the value of preventative measures like prescribed burns.
“The prescribed burns that we would have here versus what California could have are completely different,” Seminole County Fire Department Lt. Dave Williams stated. “In addition to examining terrain concerns, our recommended burns will be entirely different. Although our fires are quite different as well, this does highlight the significance of the necessity for controlled burns.
Prescribed fires are done all year long in Seminole County, and one just happened last week.
“If we don’t get out there and manage those lands properly, then we could be faced with another 1998 situation with those firestorms that come through, and it’s going to be difficult to protect the homes,” Williams stated.
“We also implore our communities to look out for your own home,” he says, adding that individuals can take action to safeguard their own homes as well. Make sure that lots are at least ten feet from your home. The farther back you can get, the better.
Regularly mowing the lawn, removing any dead branches that hang over your roof, and clearing away any vegetation and dead leaves from the area around your house are all ways you can help keep your house safe.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
