Baptist disaster relief teams aid in wildfire cleanup

VICI — Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's "ash out" crews are serving families in western Oklahoma in the aftermath of wildfires that ravaged properties in the area.

Don Williams, state director of Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief, said estimates show that nearly 100 homes were affected by the blazes, whether they were partially damaged or entirely burned down.

"We have begun to work on the almost 20 job requests we have received and expect more in the future,” Williams said.

Baptist disaster relief volunteers in western Oklahoma continue to survey the damage sustained to families' property as a result of the wildfires.

In most cases, families had little or no warning before having to evacuate their homes due to the fires spreading primarily at night.

The "ash out" crews — named as such because they help homeowners clean ash off their belongings — are helping homeowners recover items from damaged homes. Oklahoma Baptist chaplains are working to offer emotional support in communities that were in the path of the wildfires.

"Fire is a devastating thing because once it hits your home, it looks like nothing is there," Williams said. “That's when we come in to offer a helping hand to homeowners by helping them find keepsakes or pictures or anything that might be of value to them."

Baptist disaster relief volunteers and other Oklahoma Baptists joined cleanup efforts with local fire departments, the Vici Community Center and members of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Woodward.

Meanwhile, as the wildfires spread and numerous firefighters joined the efforts to contain them, Baptist disaster relief volunteers joined several Baptist churches to cook and serve meals to them.

A disaster relief feeding unit, which had been stationed at the state Capitol during the two-week teacher walkout, left the Capitol and went directly to Woodward. A feeding unit from First Baptist Church of Hooker joined the feeding efforts.

Disaster relief volunteers primarily fed firefighters working to control the blaze that swept across the prairie.

"These firefighters were working 12 hours shifts and took five minutes or less to eat, so we delivered food to them out in the fields," said Don Williams, director of Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief.

Williams said an estimated 150 firefighters were fed near Woodward. First Baptist Church of Leedey, Rhea Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Erick and Martha Road Baptist Church in Altus all played vital roles in organizing feeding efforts alongside the Great Plains Baptist Association.

"We are honored to serve people in need, and we do so in the name of Jesus Christ," he said.