U.S. Wildfires

The Situation:
On Dec. 30, the Marshall Fire ignited in Boulder County, Colo. Over 6,200 acres burned quickly, forcing the evacuations of 35,000 people. The fire spread throughout suburban neighborhoods, destroying at least 500 homes. While December wildfires are rare, the severe drought in the western United States created hazardous conditions that allowed the Marshall Fire to spread rapidly. This unusual fire is one of the impacts of a changing climate and will become increasingly more common.

Our Response:
Lutheran Disaster Response is engaging with the Rocky Mountain Synod and Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains to respond to the impact of the fires. We anticipate that immediate needs will include emotional and spiritual care, temporary shelters, food and other necessities. With local partners, Lutheran Disaster Response will continue to accompany survivors throughout the years of long-term recovery.

What you can do:
Pray:
Please pray for the communities that lie in the paths of wildfires in Colorado. May God's healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Pray that God will deliver comfort to those who mourn and strength to those working diligently to contain the fires and care for affected communities.

Give:
Your gifts will support wildfire survivors. Gifts to "U.S. Wildfires" will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by wildfires until the response is complete. Or make a general donation to Lutheran Disaster Response so we can respond to disasters whenever and wherever they strike.

Connect:
To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:

• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
• Check the Lutheran Disaster Response blog.
• "Like" Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook, follow @ELCALDR on Twitter and follow @ELCA_LDR on Instagram.