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CFOT Responds To |
The Southern California
Wildfires |
October 2007 |
October 24, 2007 - The Salvation Army College for Officer Training at Crestmont responded to the call to help aid Emergency Disaster Services with the devastating wildfire victims in San Bernardino County, San Diego County and Los Angeles County. Officers and Cadets were deployed to the various areas in need to help distribute the necessities of life, food, water, clothing and counseling to individuals affected by this devastating tragedy.
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The Fall Blitz trips that the Officers and Cadets were scheduled to take the weekend of October 26 - 28 were cancelled and instead the Officers and Cadets found themselves in places like Lake Arrowhead, Stevenson's Ranch, and San Diego. The Cadets experienced a very intense "field training" in coming to the aid of the wildfire victims. This "field training" took many forms. Cadets describe experiences of that range from dispensing water and juice to overseeing volunteers at several hydration stations, from preparing meals for hundreds of victims to providing snack bars to relief workers, from doing intake at disaster service centers to having consoling conversations with victims. |
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Lake
Arrowhead home affected by the wildfire.  Salvation
Army volunteers prepare meals for Lake Arrowhead residents affected
by the wildfires. |
One cadet writes: "I gained a new perspective by serving those who were serving the victims. It was an incredible experience -- I learned a lot about myself in leadership, working with others, and a true understanding of what the ministry of presence really means." Another writes, "The ministry opportunities were amazing. There were many people with broken hearts from the losses that they had suffered. I spoke with many of them. ... I prayed that the Spirit would guide me as to what to say to these people that would provide them with even a glimmer of hope. That is what I felt convicted to do, provide hope. It was not as difficult as I had imagined. Most of the people just needed somebody to listen to what they were saying." |
 Lake
Arrowhead resident surveys the remains of his home. |
 Captain
Michael Paugh counseling affected residents in Lake Arrowhead. |
For some, the experience was deeply personal: "The third day was the day that would change my life as this experience had a flash back in my life. It was early in the morning and we were to proceed to the town of Ramona. This town was devastated by such fire and heat that some neighborhoods were not recognizable. Stone chimneys were the only thing standing on some houses. This day we fed over 4,000 people..." |
 Salvation
Army Disaster Relief distributing food and other necessities to
area residents. |
 Lake
Arrowhead resident poses for photo in front of his property. |
 Salvation
Army Emergency Disaster Services Team. |
 EDS
Volunteers passing out cookies to residents waiting in line. |
"We did what we could and we did it with all our strength, and it was all for the Glory of God. Let His name be raised above all else, for we went out in His name and the fruit of the work that we did will be seen only by the people that were affected." To God be the Glory! |
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A
heartfelt "Thank You" in Lake Arrowhead. | Salvation Army Links: USA Western Territory | USA Central Territory | USA Southern Territory | USA Eastern Territory |