To: [log in to unmask] Dear friends in Christ, Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) continues its response to the major western fires. IN ARIZONA Lutheran Social Ministry of the Southwest (Lynn Baker, President) has named Traci Gruenberger the LDR coordinator to manage efforts in response to Arizona fires. LSM-SW is a new disaster responding agency with LDR. Presently needs are being assessed, and LSM-SW is working to coordinate its efforts with the state VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and Church World Service Response and Recovery Liaison, Peter Van Hook Arizona Fire Statistics as of July 10, 2002 Fires Reported 1,551 Acres Burned 619,688 Homes Destroyed 426 Current Situation: Rodeo/Chediski Complex fires are contained. Darnell fire on Coronado National Forest is 90% contained and has burned 5,942 acres. The fire is estimated to be contained today. IN COLORADO Lutheran Family Services of Colorado (Jim Barclay, President) and Gene Thiemann (LDR Coordinator) met in the Durango area with Pastor Tim Evers (St. Paul Lutheran Church, LC-MS) and Pastor Darin Johnson (Christ The King Lutheran Church, ELCA). Congregational members and the local Presbyterian pastor joined them. They began organizing the area's long-term recovery needs. Beginning with the Missionary Ridge fire in Durango, LDR-CO will also develop responses to fires in Hayman (Woodland Park), Coal Seam (Glenwood Springs) and other areas of significant need as the long fire season continues. LFS of Colorado has managed LDR responses to Ft. Collins floods (1997), the trials of Oklahoma City bombers Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols (1997-98), and school shootings at Columbine High School (1999). Barclay led LDR efforts to South Dakota blizzards, floods and tornadoes. For over twenty years Thiemann responded to international disasters with Church World Service and served as LDR-CO coordinator in response to the 1997 Ft. Collins flood. LDR is bringing the Rev. Christine Iverson (Atchison, Kansas) to Durango to train and implement a curriculum that enables children to express and deal with feelings of fear and sadness related to evacuations, property loss and the continuing crisis. Rev. Iverson is a special LDR consultant for children's issues. She is employed by Lutheran Social Services of Kansas/Oklahoma, and has been a primary responder to a variety of tornados, floods, hurricanes, and the Oklahoma City bombing. She will work with the Vacation Bible School teaching staff of both Christ The King and St. Paul's Churches. LDR-CO also hopes to provide impetus for an Interfaith Committee of various local denominations, to pool resources to meet unmet needs over the long haul. Church World Service representatives are present to assist with this effort. Yesterday (July 10) Barclay met with Pastor Neal Grolling at Faith Lutheran Church (LC-MS), Woodland Park, to organize the disaster response in that area. Faith is the only Lutheran church west of Colorado Springs for many miles, and has provided support to evacuees from area homes as well as to camp staff from nearby Lutheran Valley Ranch. Colorado Fire Statistics as of July 10, 2002 Fires Reported 1,068 Acres Burned 364,322 Homes Destroyed 340 Current Situation: Steuben (Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest): 550 acres at 0 percent contained. This fire is 10 miles west of Gunnision. Fire activity was extreme and numerous residences and cabins are threatened. Spring Creek (White River national Forest): 8,007 acres at 53 percent contained. This fire is burning eight miles north of New Castle. Minimal fire activity was observed and containment is expected today. Missionary Ridge (San Juan National Forest): 70,662 acres at 95 percent contained. This fire is five miles northeast of Durango. Minimal fire activity was observed and containment is expected today If you would like to make a financial contribution to help provide the spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial support necessary for the long-term recovery of thousands of people in Arizona and Colorado, please send your contributions to: ELCA Domestic Disaster Response "Western Fires" PO Box 71764 Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764 Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522 Credit card gifts via the web: www.elca.org/disaster LCMS World Relief "Western Fires" 1333 South Kirkwood Road St Louis 63122-7295 Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438 Your generosity will be combined with that of concerned Lutherans across the country, to supply local needs for the long haul. Please continue to pray for victims and caregivers alike, for the duration of this long fire season. Yours in Christ, Gil Furst GILBERT B. FURST (written on Thu, Jul 11, 2002, at 5:00 pm). Director for ELCA DOMESTIC DISASTER RESPONSE (Division for Church in Society) and LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS) 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493 Please visit our website: www.ldr.org