On March 24, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) ash-out teams began to remove ash for homeowners. Oklahoma DR teams are working out of Stillwater, Countryside to provide relief to wildfire victims within a 30-to-50-mile radius around Stillwater. They are also operating out of Mannford, First to provide relief in the area surrounding Mannford but at the moment volunteers are not staying overnight at this location

According to Oklahoma DR director Jason Yarbrough, most of the work is ash-out with a little bit of chainsaw work for fallen trees. Teams work hard to salvage any personal items from homes that been destroyed in the fires.

“In many of these situations they have lost everything,” said Yarbrough. “If they know of a location within the home where maybe had some valuables or maybe trying to see if something survived, then we do some sifting through those ashes to try to help recover any of that stuff that might have made it.”

Since the outbreak of the devastating wildfires last weekend, DR volunteers have provided 6,500 meals for victims in cities affected by the fires. Unlike some other disasters, in which clean-up efforts can being immediately, wildfire responses often take more time to allow for the ash to cool down. This ensures volunteers are not in danger of being in “hot spot” areas.

“Our trained volunteers are eager to help our neighbors in need, who have faced some of the most distressing and difficult situations,” said Ryan Deatherage, Oklahoma DR associate director. “We want to offer the hope, help and healing, and to show the love of Jesus with people as we serve.”

Teams from Texas are helping in the Stillwater area and other DR teams from surrounding states have offered to come help in the relief effort.

“It’s a partnership,” said Yarbrough. “The whole nature of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is that we can’t do it alone and we’re better together.”

Oklahoma Baptist DR has served in countless disaster responses throughout the years. To request assistance from Oklahoma Baptist DR, to make a tax-deductible donation to relief efforts or for more information, visit www.okdisasterhelp.org.