UMCOR Responds to Southern California Wildfires

An army of 10,000 firefighters continue to struggle to contain the worst wildfires in California in years, keeping a wary eye on unpredictable winds that could change course at any moment and whip the flames toward suburban neighborhoods. Ten active fires continue to burn in an area extending south from Los Angeles County to the Mexican border. Already the deadly flames have blackened nearly 500,000 acres, killed 16 people and injured dozens of others, and destroyed more than 1,000 homes.

At the request of Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is issuing a grant to the California-Pacific Annual Conference. The funds will be used to help families who have lost their homes and are in most need of assistance. In addition, at the request of two district superintendents, UMCOR is sending the Rev. Gordon Knuckey, a disaster response consultant, who will help the superintendents work with clergy on issues of pastoral care.

The fires have affected communities and congregations in six of the conference's eight districts, including the Del Rosa United Methodist Church in San Bernardino. The Del Rosa church's pastor, the Rev. John Yohan Yoon, and his family evacuated the parsonage with little more than the clothes they were wearing: their home and everything in it has been destroyed. In addition, ten families of the Del Rosa congregation also have lost their homes to these fires.

The Rev. Emma Moore-Kochlacs, San Diego District Superintendent, reported on the conference's web site that the Ramona United Methodist Church was evacuated during the Sunday morning worship service. She said, "The area consumed in the fires and the impact in terms of numbers of evacuees, lost homes, and acreage is mind-boggling."

"There are no words for the sense of loss that comes from all this," Bishop Swenson wrote yesterday in a pastoral letter to Los Angeles Episcopal Area, "but there are words that give hope: Jesus says at the close of the Gospel of Matthew, 'I am with you always,' and I am convinced this is not an unspecific, generalized long range plan, but a very intimate and specific promise to be present with us in each moment of our lives. That promise is sure and true, and I am holding on to it today."

To join in this response, please pray for those who have been affected by these terrible fires and donate to "California Wildfires," UMCOR Advance #901670. Gifts may be made by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted.

Photos: 1. October 27, 2003: Aqua satellite of Southern California wildfires. Starting in the north is a combination of the Piru, Verdale, and Simi Incident Fires, which have burned a combined 113,680 acres of land. Next is the Old, Grand Prix, and Mountain Fires. Closer to the coast is the Roblar 2 Fire. Going south, the Paradise Fire (top), the Cedar Fire (center), and the Otay Fire (bottom) form a massive veil of smoke over San Diego. Overall, well over 200,000 acres have burned in the fires. Credit: NASA. 2. October 31, 2003: California-Pacific Annual Conference officials meet with the the Rev. John Yohan Yoon in front of the burned parsonage of Del Rosa United Methodist Church in San Bernardino. As fire swept toward their home on Saturday, October 25, The Rev. Yoon, his wife, and two sons were forced to evacuate. Before leaving the parsonage, John made sure to retrieve his sermon for Sunday and a suit! He and his family spent the rest of the day making sure that all of his congregation who lived in the area of the fires were safe. Persons in the photo (center, moving left to right): The Rev. John Valles, District Superintendant for Riverside District; the Rev. John Yoon, pastor, Del Rosa UMC; Bishop Mary Ann Swenson; the Rev. Randa D'Aoust, University UMC, Redlands, CA; the Rev. Nancy Goyings, Highgrove UMC, Riverside, CA; Also present but behind John Yoon is Toni Ethridge, the Cal-Pac Disaster Response Coordinator. 3. October 31, 2003: Del Rosa United Methodist Church's parsonage, home of the Rev. John Yohan Yoon and his family, was burned to the ground. Credit: Tom Lofton, California-Pacific Annual Conference Disaster Preparedness Committee. Used by permission. These web-resolution-only photos may be reproduced for individual, nonprofit and educational use only. Click on any photo to see a larger version.

UMCOR Responds to Southern California Wildfires

See Also