Fresno, Ca, July 28, 2010– In response to the Bull & West Fires in Kern County, the American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter is responding by mobilizing staff members and placing disaster relief workers on stand-by to meet the emergency needs of those affected. Currently, the Red Cross has two shelters open to assist the evacuees from the Bull Fire (Riverkern) and West Fire (Tehachapi), providing shelter, food, comfort kits, and guidance to those in need.  All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Bull & West Fires by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter,  food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.  To make a donation:

• Call 1-800- RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)

• Send a contribution to the American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter

• Online at www.redcross.org

• Mobile Giving: Text to 90999 the word “REDCROSS” to make a $5 donation

The Central Valley is prone to seasonal wildfires, and the Central Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross urges residents to take steps now to stay safer when wildfires threaten. “By preparing together for wildfires, we can make our families safer and our communities stronger,” said Karen Chisum, Public Support Officer for the Central Valley Chapter. “We can help you and your family create a wildfire preparedness plan now, before our community is threatened.”

If you are living in an area that is not affected by the current wildfires in Kern County , the Red Cross recommends that individuals and families prepare for wildfires by:

• Create and Practice a Home Wildfire Plan – Learn about wildfire risks in your area. Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a wildfire occurs. Select a place for family members to meet outside your neighborhood in case you cannot get home or need to evacuate.. Identify two routes out of your neighborhood in case the primary route is blocked.

• Create an Emergency Preparedness Kit - Pack a first aid kit and essential medications, canned food and manual can opener, bottled water, maps of the area, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries. Include essential legal and identifying documents in your kit in the event that you must quickly evacuate.Set aside household items that can be used as fire tools (e.g. a rake, ax, shovel, bucket, chain or hand saw).

• Heed News Reports - Listen to your local radio and TV stations for updated information. If threatened, be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice as wildfires can be unpredictable.  Contain pets to one room so you can find them quickly.

• Prepare Your Home – Select building materials and plants that resist fire. Regularly clean your roof and gutters to remove flammable debris. Identify and maintain an adequate water source outside your home to saturate your home’s perimeter if needed.  For more information on wildfire preparedness, contact the Central Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross at 559-455-1000, visit www.redcross.org or www.arccentralvalley.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS. We urge you to share these Red Cross wildfire preparedness tips with every member of your household, because the best protection is to be prepared ahead of time.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org, our local website

www.ARCcentralvalley.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

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