CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, continues to assess short- and long-term needs in Arizona, where 1,551 fires have been reported, and in Colorado, where 1,068 fires have been reported as of July 10.
More than 425 homes have been destroyed and 619,688 acres of land burned in Arizona, said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director, Lutheran Disaster Response. Fires in Rodeo and Chediski Complex are now contained. Fires in Coronado National Forest are 90 percent contained. The fires there have burned 5,942 acres of forest land, he said.
Lutheran Social Ministry of the Southwest, based in Tucson, Ariz., is managing Lutheran Disaster Response assessment and recovery efforts. It is working with Arizona's Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster coalition and Church World Service.
In Colorado, 340 homes have been destroyed and 364,322 acres of land burned, Furst reported. In Steuben, about 10 miles west of Gunnison National Forest, fire that spread across 550 acres of land is zero percent contained. "Fire activity is extreme and numerous residences and cabins are threatened," he said.
In Spring Creek, Colo., near White River National Forest, fire that spread across 8,007 acres of land is 53 percent contained. "Fire is still burning land eight miles north of New Castle. Minimal fire activity was observed and contained," Furst said.
In Missionary Ridge, Colo., near San Juan National Forest, Colo., fire that spread across 70,662 acres of land is 95 percent contained. This fire activity is five miles northeast of Durango, said Furst.
Lutheran Family Services of Colorado and Lutheran Disaster Response are organizing long-term recovery efforts in the Durango area. They are responding to fires in Missionary Ridge and Hayman (Woodland Park), Coal Seam (Glenwood Springs) and other areas of significant need as the long fire season continues, Furst said.
Lutheran Disaster Response in Colorado is working to implement a curriculum designed for children to express and deal with feelings of fear and sadness related to evacuations and property loss caused by fire, Furst said.
"Lutheran Disaster Response in Colorado also hopes to provide impetus for an interfaith committee of various local denominations to pool resources together to meet unmet needs over the long haul," Furst said. "Church World Service representatives are present to assist with this effort." -- -- -- DOMESTIC DISASTERS:
Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors
of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S.
Virgin Islands, please include:
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
800-638-3522
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
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Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
