As wildfires in California continue to threaten lives and homes, personal property recovery efforts are expected to begin in the coming weeks as fires are contained, according to reports from California’s Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Send Relief leaders, who released an update Tuesday (Jan. 21).
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According to this latest report, 23,713 acres have burned in Palisades Fire, which has been about 60% contained. With the Eaton Fire, the report said, more than 14,021 acres have burned with about 90% containment.
In the next 2–5 weeks, California Baptist Disaster Relief and partner teams are hoping to receive the greenlight to begin personal property recovery. As of Monday, teams are already receiving requests for recovery help — and so far, according to the report, teams have received more than 100 requests.
Meanwhile, chaplain teams continue to serve wildfire survivors at two sites that are reportedly expected to wrap up on Jan. 29. Volunteers are also putting together 1,000 crisis buckets to distribute to those affected, the report noted.
Potential partnerships
On Monday, the American Red Cross reached out to Send Relief, a ministry of the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, about a possible feeding partnership to help those impacted by the fire. But no definitive plans have been confirmed yet, shared Coy Webb, Send Relief’s crisis response director.
On Jan. 27, Send Relief plans to work with state Disaster Relief teams to open a Wildfire Resource Hub in Pasadena, Webb said in an email.
“Once again, our [Southern Baptist Disaster Relief] volunteers demonstrated they really are some of the best servants in Disaster Relief work,” Webb noted. “Their hearts for Jesus and love for people continue to win favor with those they serve in both the communities, other DR organizations and government.”
