The Black Forest fire has been stated to be the worst in CO history. The status at the time of this newsletter is: 511 homes destroyed, over 15,000 acres burned, 2 fatalities, and 100% containment. We have written over 220 work orders to serve people affected by the fires.
Samaritan’s Purse was able to accept out invitation to respond and we welcomed their program manager and truck Wednesday the 19th and transitioned all of our work orders and activities starting Thursday Morning the 20th.
Byron and Susan are working as Samaritan’s Purse volunteers as the volunteer coordinators. In this role they are responsible for all of the volunteers, job sites, and work order management. April, Clark, Max, Carl, Jerry, Lou Ann, Linda, Kelley, Tammie, Marshall, and many other of our regular volunteers are also working as Samaritan’s Purse volunteers in various capacities to include team leaders, assessors, and workers.
The first day of assessors being allowed to make contact and visit with the affected residents was Friday the 21st. The first teams went out to start sifting through the ashes Saturday the 22nd. At the writing of this update the teams have completed the sifting of 19 homes. Work will continue Monday through Saturday starting every day with orientation at 7:30 and 12:30 at Mountain Springs Church at 7345 Adventure Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80908. The number for the SP office (in the trailer) is 719.623.2750. Anyone with volunteer questions or needing assistance should call the SP office number. To volunteer simply show up at Mountain Springs church 15 minutes before one of the orientation times to complete your paperwork and get settled in for the 15 – 20 minute orientation. From there you will be assigned to a team and will set out to the job site for the day.
Byron was featured in a Samaritan’s Purse video. We wanted to share the message with you and hope that it will provide comfort to those in crisis. (Click the image to view)
We continue to work to improve our communications and are very grateful to Kaitlyn for helping us to improve our social media and communications. We are also grateful to Doug at Null Variable for helping us get our website updated so we can do a better job with posting and keeping it current.
God has been good as we have traveled through the last six weeks serving in tornado response in Texas and Oklahoma, and now fires back in our hometown. Your prayers for wisdom and strength are being answered please keep praying.
As always we are extremely grateful for your prayer support. We look forward to hearing from you in person, on the phone, email, snail mail, or Facebook. Until then; here, there, or in the air!
