Union County Red Cross Volunteer Helps Prevent a California Wildfire
The old adage about being in the right place at the right time came true Wednesday, October 31 for a group of American Red Cross disaster volunteers working the San Diego wildfires.
The Client Services Outreach team of four was canvassing an area devastated by the fires, walking around the property of a client whose home had been destroyed. They were on a mission to contact the client and ensure he was getting the necessary emergency assistance such as food, water, or clothing, when they discovered something much more devastating.
Union County American Red Cross volunteer Jessica Funk was the first to notice a smoldering brush on the property, ready to turn into another fire. The team immediately dialed 9-1-1.
“My conscience and Red Cross spirit wouldn’t allow me to walk away from a scene that could have become much more tragic,” explains Jessica.
A group of forestry fighters, who came from Idaho earlier that week to help contain the wildfires, were the first to arrive and put out the blaze. Thanks to their fast response time and the quick thinking of Jessica, along with the other members of the Client Services Outreach team, what might have been a disastrous fire was prevented.
“I’m so proud of Jessica and our two other disaster volunteers currently helping in the California Fire relief efforts,” states Deb Stein, Director of Response and Recovery for the Union County Red Cross. “It’s because of people like them, who are willing to be trained and ready to help at a moment’s notice, that allows the American Red Cross to continue bringing life-saving support and services to the community and ensures the relief efforts are what the American people have come to expect.”
In addition to Jessica, the Union County Chapter has another volunteer working as a Client Case Worker at the San Diego fires, and a third volunteer in San Bernardino, working as a Mass Care worker, distributing food, water, and other necessary materials to emergency workers and disaster victims.
The Red Cross relief efforts are far from over, and they will continue providing emergency services, keeping shelters open, and meeting the needs of those affected by the fires. To date, nearly 7,000 Red Cross workers across the country, most of which are volunteers, have gone to help. They have provided nearly 275,000 meals and 25,000 overnight stays in over twenty shelters. Sixty-three mobile feeding units have also gone out for those who could not make it to the shelters.
As we approach the holiday season, the Union County chapter encourages all citizens to check their smoke alarms and be extra cautious. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation to the local American Red Cross disaster relief fund for local family fires in Union or Anson counties, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.
