MARIPOSA — The Red Cross shelter at New Life Christian Fellowship in Bootjack closed yesterday at 2 p.m. after the last of the mandatory evacuations were lifted for the Ferguson Fire, and those staying at the shelter were able to return home.
Since July 15, over 50 Red Cross workers have:
- Served 5,315 meals and snacks
- Distributed nearly 6,000 relief supplies including comfort kits with hygiene items and clean-up kits
- Provided 493 overnight stays in shelters over 24 days
- Made over 630 mental health or health-related contacts
Returning Home and Recovering After a Wildfire
The Red Cross offers the following safety tips for families as they begin to return home and recover from wildfires:
- Do not enter your home until fire officials say it is safe.
- Use caution when entering burned areas as hazards may still exist, including hot spots, which can flare up without warning.
- Avoid damaged or fallen power lines, poles and downed wires.
- Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control. Hidden embers and hot spots could burn your pets’ paws or hooves.
- Discard any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke or soot.
- Take precautions while cleaning your property. You may be exposed to potential health risks from hazardous materials.
Find these and other wildfire safety tips online at redcross.org or in the Red Cross Emergency App. Download the Red Cross Emergency App for preparedness information and shelter locations at your fingertips. Look for it in your app store, or text GETEMERGENCY to 90999.
How to Help
You can help people affected by disasters big and small, like wildfires and countless other crises, by making a donation to support Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small. Call, click or text to give: visit redcross.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
How to Volunteer
The Red Cross is accepting new volunteers who are interested in supporting wildfire relief efforts. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to begin an application. Once submitted, Red Cross representatives will contact the applicants regarding orientation and volunteer opportunities.
Learn More
Follow the local Red Cross on Twitter and Facebook for additional updates. Visit our website at redcross.org/centralcalifornia.
About the American Red Cross Central California Region
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The American Red Cross Central California Region provides services to the ten counties across Central California that is home to more than 4 million people. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org.
